What was the Delhi Durbar 1903? (1 Viewer)

[Ana Donzino]

8 - Samthar ​

5 Camels with riders
1 Elephant with State Banner
3 Horses
15 Musicians
50 Footmen
27 Orderlies
7 Elephants
43 Mounted body guard

It's such a shame that I don't have pictures for this state, with so many interesting elephants and people within its files. I only found one photo, that I think it belongs to Samthar because of the elephants clothes, but it's just a guess.



Next state, Charkhari

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Hi to all - sorry for the long silence. Here I am again.

Charkhari​

7 Camel riders
2 Musicians
33 Mounted body guard
5 Led horses
1 Palki with 10 bearers
23 Musicians
142 Footmen
6 Musicians
8 Elephants
6 Footmen


These are the camels mentioned first on the list. This image is within the last batch of photographs that I bought from the British library. It is very neat, and many things can be seen at the back (although I haven't work on identifying those yet)


These picture is captioned as Charkhari (or Charkhhari), although I don't have any proof of that yet.

Charkhari is a state with many retinues and elephants. Very interesting state. If you check on the identifying of the Main Procession elephants on previous posts, you'll see that the state elephant is beautiful. So thinking of it...

 

[Ana Donzino]

Rajgarh​

1 Mounted drummer
5 Led horses
17 Irregular horsemen and 10 Mace-bearers
20 Footmen
2 Elephants
4 Footmen


Here is one of the elephants. The list mentions two, the second one in this picture being the state elephant. You'll see it closer in the next picture. You can see the footmen here, and a couple of led horses. This is one of the first digital scans that I bought from the BL


Here is the state elephant. This is a photocopy of the copies they had as spare at the British Library that no one ever wanted . That's why the quality is not so good. Here are some macebearers and the cavalry behind.


Again this photo is captioned as belonging to the Rajgarh state, but I don't think it's correct (mainly because only two elephants should be in the group)

Next, Narsingarh (yay!)

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

11 - Narsingarh ​

3 Mounted men with drum and flag
3 Camel Sowars
6 Rajput guards
35 Armed footmen and mace-bearers
2 Elephants
20 Mounted Boduguards


This is the only image that I have of the Narsingarh group. It is very neat and clear, it helped a lot while I was making the elephant. It shows details that the Main Procession photos don't.
I hope I can get images of the Mounted men with drum and flag, the camels or the second elephant. Maybe I already have them and haven't identified them yet. Oh well.


Beau Geste Sets BG430 and BG431, the Narsingarh elephant with one of the escort groups

 

[Ana Donzino]

IV - Rajputana States​

1 - Jaipur
​

1 Elephant and State Standard
5 caparisoned horses
2 Horsemen with trident and kettledrum
10 Mace bearers
3 Elephants
60 Horsemen in chain armour



The State elephant of Jaipur at the Retainers Review


I own this wonderful photo. I bought it some time ago and I can say that the detail in person is absolutely amazing. It's such a privilege to get to see one of this photographs in person. I enjoy it very very much.


Beau Geste set BG245, the Jaipur elephant (retired)


Beau Geste sets BG245, BG399, BG400 and BG401, the Jaipur group (Mace bearers included)

 

[Ana Donzino]

This photo was quoted as Jaipur's, but the list doesn't mention any rath. Again, there are two possibilities: a mistake in the program or someone who wrote the wrong state. Something more for research.
I love what can be seen on the other side: the previous group walking in front of the other side of the amphitheatre. If only this was an original photo (and not a photocopy); I could enlarge it enough to identify the group in front.


The famous horsemen in chain armour. They were so many that everybody took pictures of them.


The horsemen again (Gertrude Bell's photo)


Beau Geste set BG72, the Horsemen from Jaipur (retired)


Next state, Jhodpur

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

2 - Jodhpur ​

12 Caparisoned horses
12 Footmen in mail armour

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the Jodhpur group. Not identified as such at least. The only set we made from this state was the palanquin, which was based on a photograph that an old customer took at the Jodhpur museum many years ago, where they have a few palanquins in exhibition. It was previous to 1903 so it can be assumed that it was brought for the Durbar, but I don't have proof of that.


Beau Geste set BG192, the palanquin from Jodhpur (retired)

I was contacted by the curator of that Museum a couple of months ago. She wanted to know if I had any photographs of the palanquin and the maharani to exhibit by the palanquin itself. I knew I didn't, but I went through all the photos I have, and I found these:





It looks like the same palanquin. It is within the Indore state group, photographed while they were waiting fro their turn in the fields around the amphitheatre. But as they were all mixed up in the fields it could be the same palanquin. The program shows that Indore had 2 palkis in their group though, so it might be one of theirs. I don't know. It's something else to research and solve.

 

[Ana Donzino]

3- Bundi​

1 Elephant and State Standard
20 Bandsmen
105 Armoured footmen
15 Mounted Sardars with attendants
2 Horsemen with Standard and kettle drum
12 Musicians with flags
1 Horseman with Chief’s Ganges water
8 Caparisoned horses
30 Armed retainers
1 Maharaja's elephant guarded by 25 Armed Sardars on foot
9 Spearmen on foot
4 Sardars with 8 attendants
40 Horsemen
2 Elephants and Standard
1 Elephant


The Bundi group, with the state elephant and 2 more elephants at its sides. You can see the mounted sardars there too, which I'll be releasing next week.


This photograph was probably taken during one o the rehearsals, because the elephants following the state ones have no occupants.


Beau Geste set BG303, the state elephant of Bundi


Beau Geste sets BG303, BG356, BG357 and BG358, the Bundi group (from the Main Procession)


This is one of the sardars. This one, a chief with attendants. They will be in the next cavalry group that I'll be releasing.

All for now. Next state, Bikaner

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

4 - Bikaner ​

1 Elephant and State Standard
1 Horseman and State Banner
3 Horsemen with kettledrums and trumpet
2 Elephants and Standard
2 Palkis
1 Bullock “Rath”
10 Led horses
25 Mace-bearers and 35 Musicians
2 Elephants
21 Cavalry and 50 irregular cavalry
50 Camel Sowars in armour
30 Footmen


The Bikaner state elephant, waiting outside the amphitheatre


Set BG361, the State Elephant of Bikaner


Set BG361, the State Elephant of Bikaner


Beau Geste sets BG361, BG362, BG363 and BG364, the Bikaner Group

 

[Ana Donzino]

The 50 Bikaner Camel Riders were such a large group that almos all photographers took pictures of them, while they were in the Amphitheatre, but also outside it, waiting for their turn, resting or even inside the state camp.

..."It was reserved to Bikanir to introduce a novel effect in the matter of mailed men, a feature outside the ken of Western tales of chivalry. The desert state had mounted fifty sheathed warriors on camels, each with a chrome yellow and rice green saddle cloth. They passed in procession quite noiselessly, the only audible sound being the gentle pad-pad of the camels, and the slight rustling of the loose flexible armour. The camelry were followed by a throng of mounted retainers with silver-adorned saddlery ; every man carried at his back a polished shield of hippopotamus hide."...


The name of this file identifies the camel riders as Bikaner, but they are not. They have diferent armour and helmets






Beau Geste set 174, the Bikaner Camel Riders. For obvious reasons the set brings only 4, but if you are interested on the 50 camels we can make them with diferent arms and heads so they all look diferent. Different camels colors too. Some musicians can be added to the group too.

Next, Kota state.

Have a great weekend,

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the delay. I wanted to show you the new Bundi sets before going on with the Retainers Review. I'll be announcing them in my next newsletter (among other things), probably next Monday. You'll have them here first


Beau Geste brand new set BG439, Elite Cavalry Officer from Bundi, with parasol and servants






Beau Geste Bundi Cavalry group (sets BG439, BG440, BG441)

 

[Ana Donzino]

Beau Geste new set BG440, Bundi Elite Cavalry



Beau Geste set BG441, Bundi Elite Mounted Musicians

Tomorrow, Kota state.

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

5 - Kota ​

1 State elephant
2 Horsemen with drum and banner
32 Irregular cavalry
45 Mounted body guard
11 Armed camelry
15 Nagas (Military ascetics)
145 Footmen and musicians
3 Led horses
1 Elephant and 1 palki
12 Armed Sardars and 10 irregular horsemen



The Kota contingent at the Amphitheatre. I've made many of these guys when I released the Kota State elephants and the escort guards. Also one of these last sets, the emblem carriers (below), that can be seen in this photo too. There are so many more though. Look at the flagbearers in front of the gourp, the ornamented horse, and the regular infantry. So many things still to be made from this state. It's great to have many pictures showing the state going through the Amphitheatre.




Group of emblem carriers posing before the Review. In this picture you can also see one of the boys of the band, on the left, and the standards and state ornaments (and a palanquin on the right!)



Beau Geste set BG438, state emblems and and standard bearers from Kota, at the Retainers Review




Beau Geste sets BG370, BG371, BG372 and BG373, the Kota group



This is one of the digital images that I bought from the British Library recently. The elephant's clothes are very similar to the state elephant, this one is carrying a couple of guys holding a flag, along with the mahout and a lovely head ornament on his head. There are a few horses with drums on the back, both sides, that I have already included in my schedule of releases. Also a mounted flagbearer and a special guy, who confirmed to me that this photo is from a Kota contingent. This elegant gentleman in light clothes, carrying a stick below his left arm, is also standing to the right of the elephant in the picture above, the group of emblem carriers.

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Kota Camel Riders, coming in front of the Nagas, posing outside the Amphitheatre


Beau Geste sets BG434, BG435, BG436 and BG437, the camel riders from Kota, Officer, Flagbearer, gunners and musicians.


And old British Library image featuring the state elephant, the guards, the emblem and standard carriers, and 3 more elephants from the state


Beau Geste set BG346, the elephant with standard bearers from Kota (top right of the photo above)



One of the Naga warriors, sketched by Raven Hill. I've been planning to make these guys for a long time. They had their bodies painted in ochre yellow and had swords, spears and shields. The danced around mocking fights against them.

Next state, Kishangarh

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

6 - Kishangarh ​

2 Camel Sowars
18 Musicians and mace-bearers
52 Armed horsemen with 4 Sardars
60 Irregular foot in quilted uniforms
2 Led horses
8 Sardars mounted

I'd love to have more pictures of this state. Here is what I have.

The 4 sardars among the 52 armed horsemen. It's so lovely that they were standing on their saddles




Look at the beautiful mounted drummer in front of the cavalry. Absolutely gorgeous.


Beau Geste set BG105. I think we should have made it a double set, with 4 horses. By the times we released them, most collectors ordered only one set, so their display show only half of them

 

[Ana Donzino]

Now, the issue with the irregular footmen in quilted uniforms. The first reference we had from this guys was Gertrude Bell's photo:



As you can see, Bell identifies them as belonging to the Orchha State. Only much later we learnt that they were Kishangarh's.



Beau Geste set BG73, the Orchha/Kishangarh infantry





Next state...Alwar!

Have a great weekend,

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

7 - Alwar ​

2 Elephants with Standard and emblem
31 Footmen with guns, spears and clubs
21 Armed cavalry
1 Elephant carriage
15 Caparisoned Horses
10 Armed horsemen
4 Elephants

Alwar state was one of the most photographed groups. The huge 4-elephants carriage drew a lot of attention to them.


The Alwar Carriage entering the Amphitheatre


Beau Geste set BG62-63-64, the Alwar Carriage (retired)


Cavalry, Carriage and Camelry, waiting to head to the Amphitheatre


The elephant with standard and the camelry behind. I love this spot, from inside the 'arena'


This was the only photo that we had at the time of making the carriage, back in 2000. It's a Gertrude Bell photo. And it was really small at those times. I got to buy a digital copy from the British Library after that, which showed good detail.

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Carriage, the elephant with standard and the cavalry behind.
Last time I ordered copies from the British Library, they accepted to scan the whole page of the albums for me. There was a whole page with pictures of the carriage. Posing, resting, marching and during rehearsals. Very neat them all.





The Camels marching inside the Amphitheatre



Beau Geste set BG340, The Alwar Camel Riders


Beau Geste sets BG341 and BG342, The Alwar Camel Riders, musicians this time

 

[Ana Donzino]

This is an example of one of the many pictures within the album pages. Check the note taken below this one, describing the colors of the Camel riders' uniforms and saddle cloth. This notes are like pure gold for me.


The Alwar state elephant waiting to enter the Amphitheatre for a rehearsal


Beau Geste sets BG190 (the state elephant, retired), BG290, the escort guards, and BG314, the Alwar music band.


Gertrude Bell's photo of the palanquin with a tiger/monkey. She writes in her notes that it belonged to Alwar, so we made it based on her information only. It turned to be Rewa's after a lot of research. We found out many years later.



Beau Geste set BG69-70-71, the Alwar palanquin (retired) which turned to be Rewa's

Next state, Tonk

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

8 - Tonk ​

5 Musicians
120 Footmen
51 Irregular horse
4 Elephants
30 Musicians
20 Irregular horse

Unfortunately I don't have photos of the Tonk Contingent at the Amphitheatre. Only the ones of the State Elephant in the Main Procession. The maharaja was in the right column, behind Alwar and in front of Sirohi.





Next State, Jhalawar

Happy New Year to all!!!!

Ana