What was the Delhi Durbar 1903? (2 Viewers)

[Ana Donzino]

As I ran out of states I decided to begin posting pictures of the Retainers posing for the photographers. There are more photos of this kind than of the actual Review.


Ths photo should be of an Orchha group. The elephant clothes look alike the elephant band from Orchha. The program mentions 5 elephants with banners and emblems, which I think are the first 5 from the camera. The sixth is defintely the state elephant. Not sure about the last one, the one with double roof. I don't think it belongs to this group.


I believe this is a miscelaneous group. The first elephant might be Limri's; the second, third and fourth ones were not in the Main Procession so it's difficult to identify them. The fifth is Faridkot.


This is the same group as before, taken a few minutes after or before. Unfortunately the image is not a good one. The original photo surely shows all the elephants at the back. So many


The Patiala elephant photographed by Gertrude Bell



A servant carrying the head ornaments of the Patiala elephant. Also Bell's

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Palanquins


Rewah


Unknown for me


Kotah - Two palanquins here. Look at the lovely gentleman carrying a straight closed umbrella standing solemnly by the first palanquin


Cutch


Unknown for me

 

[Ana Donzino]

A Gertrude Bell's photo. She identfied the palanquin as Alwar's, but it really is one of the silver Rewah's palanquins


Unknown for me


Unknown for me


Unknown for me


Jaisalmer

If anyone can identify any of the palanquins please, feel free to post your comments

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Hi again,

Three Bell's photos. She has contributed so much to the Delhi Durbar 1903 research with her photos. I'm so happy that she was at Delhi, with her camera, at the right time.






I don't agree much with her notes about the states where the rath and cannon belong. I should research more.


Two more photos, not sure who took them.





Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

This is a photocopy of one of the photocopies within the cabinets of the India Office, at the British Library. It's tittled Kishangarh, which they really are.


Bell didn't identified correctly this group. That's why we named the set the Orchha infantry. They are really Kishangarh


These are part of the Datia contingent. The armoured elephant in front, the mounted musicians and elite cavalry at the back


I couldn't identify this elephant yet. Nice horn.



Isn't this the loveliest photo? It's names sons of the maharajas

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Five more photos, mostly BL cabinet photocopies




Flag bearer from Jaipur


We based our Kashmir infantry and band on this image


The beautiful Ladhaki Devil Dancers


The Ladhaki Musician Monks

Ana

 

[johnnybach]

You have probably seen the attached picture by Roderick MacKenzie many times before Anna - but as it is new to me - I thought it might also be new to many of your viewers.

It shows the entry of the procession into Delhi in 1903 - and it just takes the breath away. Enjoy.

http://www.teachinghistory100.org/objects/the_state_entry_into_delhi

 

[johnnybach]

Just a thought - but in the interest of adding some more information to your excellent thread here Anna, I've recently found that Menpes book "The Durbar", which has become both difficult to find and somewhat expensive - has an online version, which can be read in it's entirety - and also includes all of his wonderful illustrations of the people involved in the Durbar.

Here's the link: just click the buttons to turn the pages. jb

http://www.archive.org/stream/thedurbar00menpiala#page/n5/mode/2up

 

[Ana Donzino]

Thank you, Johnnybach! Links like these are FULLY appreciated. I have a good copy of the MacKenzie's painting, given to me by a friend collector. I have a copy of Menpes Durbar, also given to me by a good friend, a folder with high definition scans and this PDF version.
I also have 5 films from the Delhi Durbar 1903. I cannot share them, but I can show them. A few of you have seen them in my room at the Chicago show. They are awesome. When I saw them for the first time I couldn't believe my eyes. It was so exciting! They are taken from the usual spots where the photographers were. If you want, I can take them to Chicago again this year.

Ana

 

[DMNamiot]

Ana where did you find the videos? They are very difficult to locate. Would love to see them some day but I don't think I will make it to Chicago this year

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Thank you, Johnnybach! Links like these are FULLY appreciated. I have a good copy of the MacKenzie's painting, given to me by a friend collector. I have a copy of Menpes Durbar, also given to me by a good friend, a folder with high definition scans and this PDF version.
I also have 5 films from the Delhi Durbar 1903. I cannot share them, but I can show them. A few of you have seen them in my room at the Chicago show. They are awesome. When I saw them for the first time I couldn't believe my eyes. It was so exciting! They are taken from the usual spots where the photographers were. If you want, I can take them to Chicago again this year.

Ana

I guessed you would have the book - and seen the painting Anna - but I really put them up for others to be able to share them. At my age - and with a few medical problems, I very much regret that International travel would be rather difficult - so have resigned myself to the fact that I'll be a home-bird now - so trips to Chicago won't be happening. However, I make the fullest use of the magic carpet of the Internet - so will continue to look for interesting finds about the Durbars.

Thank you also for this thread - and the fascinating collection of items you have collected and show here - which are very much appreciated. If only colour photography was around then - eh? I also loved the way you showed how your latest Elephant was born!:salute::

Good luck with the continuing series of figures Anna - they are fabulous to look at - though a little out of my reach I fear. jb

 

[Ana Donzino]

Thank you, jb!

 

[Ana Donzino]

A few more photos, this time photos from the last batch that I bought from the British Library


I believe these are Rewa's


No idea to which state these beautiful camel riders belong


These guys are from Bikaner


I'm almost sure that these soldiers are from Kashmir


Rewa Cavalry

Ana

 

[johnnybach]

A couple more books to share, which can be read online, to add Anna. Sadly, no pictures in either, this time - but both books give fascinating accounts, with much written details of uniforms worn - and other useful details such as Elephant garments etcetera.

"At Delhi" by Lovatt Fraser; which can be read by clicking below;

http://www.archive.org/stream/atdelhifras00fras#page/n5/mode/2up



And also "Imperial India: letters from the east, 1903" by John Oliver Hobbes, also read by clicking below

http://archive.org/stream/imperialindialet00hobbiala#page/n7/mode/2up


jb ( learning more all of the time!)

 

[Ana Donzino]

Thank you, jb!!!

 

[DMNamiot]

Johnny, I have a cd copy of Fraziers book it's a very good source. I also have the Menpes book and a copy of Wheelers book. All great resources! Thankfully the 1903 Durbar was covered really well, there are books and photos covering the other two but not as deeply as the 03 Durbar. I suspect that is due to Lord Curzon's influence and wanting to put on a spectacular event! I wish I had a time machine I would go back and see this event!

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Johnny, I have a cd copy of Fraziers book it's a very good source. I also have the Menpes book and a copy of Wheelers book. All great resources! Thankfully the 1903 Durbar was covered really well, there are books and photos covering the other two but not as deeply as the 03 Durbar. I suspect that is due to Lord Curzon's influence and wanting to put on a spectacular event! I wish I had a time machine I would go back and see this event!

Dave

Yo Dave. I'm pretty new to the various Durbars Dave - although I've been looking in to Anna's very enjoyable thread for quite a while. I'm also not intending to collect any of the various manufacturers pieces - because I fear if I did begin - I would have to stop what I already enjoy doing best - which is repairing, restoring and painting old Toy Soldiers and castings.

BUT - doesn't mean I'm not interested!

I've found these various free online versions of books etc., about the Durbar - and I just wanted to share their availability with anyone else who has become interested too. I note that these items have been out of print for quite a while - and as with anything that's getting older and scarcer - they are frequently difficult to find - and therefore getting more expensive too.

So...........IF you care to read all about it - the ones I've found so far are instantly accessible - and best of all, like all of the best things in life - they're FREE!!:salute:: jb

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny,

I think free is great as well because you are right about the expense and time it takes to locate some of these books. I have seen a set of papers, invitations and a program of the events from the 1903 Durbar sold on eBay many years ago for a really large amount of money! Still I am hunting for a program and who knows maybe someone will put one on the web for all of us to enjoy for free
I imagine that you would have a great time painting the castings you can find for the various regiments in India. I have not seen elephants available as castings but then again I haven't looked either so if there are ones available I am sure you can find them!

Anyway thanks for posting the links.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Johnny,

I think free is great as well because you are right about the expense and time it takes to locate some of these books. I have seen a set of papers, invitations and a program of the events from the 1903 Durbar sold on eBay many years ago for a really large amount of money! Still I am hunting for a program and who knows maybe someone will put one on the web for all of us to enjoy for free
I imagine that you would have a great time painting the castings you can find for the various regiments in India. I have not seen elephants available as castings but then again I haven't looked either so if there are ones available I am sure you can find them!

Anyway thanks for posting the links.

Dave

Sarum Soldiers were at one time, considering making some of the old Marlborough Durbar Elephants ( which they took over), available as castings - which could possibly have tempted me into this area - but due to unfortunate and very sad circumstances - this looks highly unlikely to ever happen.

I haven't painted many Indian Regiment Soldiers at all - and this is one part of my collection that is very unrepresented, to date. I think I found one casting in a job lot last year that I painted up as Skinner's Horse - but that's about it.

I have noticed that many of the Durbar books available online - have US University stamps somewhere inside them. My thanks go out to ALL such bodies that make these precious sources of information available to us al via the Internetl. Well done to them.

Also - many thanks to Anna - for her beautiful Glossies; - without seeing them - I wouldn't have got interested at all!

In the meantime - I'll keep on looking and reading. Cheers jb

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi johnny,

I agree that the circumstances with Marlborough and Sarum are terrible and I hope they come back to life sometime soon.

As for under represented in a collection I just realized that I have hardly any American Units in my collection. What I do have is mainly Cavalry figures and a small but growing vignette collection of American Flag bearers starting with Betsy Ross and moving into the Civil War. I am working on getting the Stars and Stripes in as many variations as I can. As for the rest of my collection you will find a large number of Indian Regiments on display as well as figures from every where in between.