Afghan Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange (Kennel Breeder History Turkuman Nissim's Laurel UK/USA) |
Turkuman Nissim’s Laurel was born in England 30 October 1945. His breeder was Juliette de Bairacli-Levi (still with us) who did
scientific research since 1937 to find out how one could prevent
distemper by rearing a dog "naturally“. And because Afghans seemed to
be a very "natural“ breed to her, she chose them. She became
famous for her book and articles about "Natural Rearing" and to us Afghan
people through her Turkuman Afghans
(Photo's from Sue Virgo archives, and Ruth Weddle's "Our Afghan" magazine)
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Turkuman Bamboo (late Black Sampson) Turkuman Pomegranate Turkuman Lotus Blossom Chota Nissim of Ringbank Khalidi Or Kashibi Khan of Kuranda Turkuman Night-flowering Cactus Bibi of Pushtikuh Am Ch Turkuman Nissim's Laurel Turkuman Bamboo (late Black Sampson) Turkuman Pomegranate Turkuman Lotus Blossom Ch Netheroyd Turkuman Camelthorn Kassar Khan Golden Ranee Tullah of Pushtikuh (late Kandahar Tullah)
Ch. Nissim’s Laurel dam was Ch. Netheroyd Turkuman Camelthorn bred by Mrs. Polson, owner Mrs. Abson and Chota Nissim of Ringbank was his stud. Nissim’s Laurel was exported to Sunny Shay’s world famous GRANDEUR kennels (now R. Rechler). He was in the ownership of Sunny Shay and Sol Malkin. He became a "shooting star“ and achieved his U.S. championship very quickly.
He was a top winner in the fifties and one of his greatest wins were the BOB at the 1950 AHC American Speciality under one of the most respected judges in these days, Mr. Alva Rosenberg. He was the first Afghan who won the hound group at Westminster KC in the same year.
Like his mother, Ch. Turkumans Nissim’s Laurel, was a black with white feet. The markings could have gone up to the pastern of his front feet, when one lookes at old photos, but he also had a white mark in his face, a common thing at the Turkumans!
Ch. Turkuman Nissim’s Laurel produced some very fine dogs for Sunny Shay. Shirkans daughters were bred to him and to mention only one of the all time greats in US, who carry his gene, I would like to point out his great-grandson Ch. Holly Hill Desert Wind.
Am Ch Taj Akbaruu of Grandeur Am Can Ch Blue Boy of Grandeur Am Ch Khanhasset Ginger of Grandeur Am Ch Khabiri of Grandeur Am Ch Turkuman Nissim's Laurel Kushani of Grandeur Lost Acres Beebe of Grandeur Am Ch Holly Hill Desert Wind Am Ch Zaadulla of Arthea Am Ch Zaamakuri of Ghazni Us Winonie of Ghazni Us Am Ch Samaris of Moornistan Am Ch Majara Mihrab Am Ch Maymun of Moornistan Djaji Or Djadji Von Falkenwalde
Mrs. Cynthia Madigan Boissevain gott to know Sunny Shay in 1950, made friends with her, and to cut a long story short, bought a grandaughter from Nissim’s Laurel. This was the beginning of the BRANWEN kennels in Spain and the way the Shirkhan blood came to Europe and Nissim’s Laurel got "back“ to England via the KHANABAD kennels of Margaret Niblock.
Am Ch Shirkhan of Grandeur Am Ch Cammak's Pa'yunga of Grandeur Am Ch Silver Pearl of Grandeur Branwen Kadar Am Ch Shirkhan of Grandeur Torka El Haiwa of Grandeur Sheba of Grandeur Khanabad Branwen Sheen Khurram Am Ch Turkuman Nissim's Laurel Am Ch Hajji Baba of Grandeur Am Ch Zala of Grandeur Branwen Karuna of Grandeur Nissim of Grandeur Kushtar of Grandeur Hakia of Grandeur
Juliette de B.-L. left Britain shortly after the Nissim’s Laurel litter, lived in Israel, breeding Afghans, lived on a Greek island, breeding Afghans, reared them "naturally“, travelled a lot around the world, and became "The Legend“ that is Turkuman.
We understand that "Nissim" was the name of Juliette's brother who was killed in the Spanish Civil War and Juliette perpetuated his name by including it in the name of some of the Turkuman's.
Ortrud.Roemer-Horn, Germany, 1998
(Ortrud.Roemer-Horn@t-online.de)
Associated articles....
UK - Brantwood Kennels where Juliette was "kennel maid".
Grandeur/Branwen Full Circle