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I came across this article and was too funny to not share. However, no disrespect towards iranian history is intended. Please contribute if you have any knowledge about this particular shah.
In 1842 the 11 year-old heir to the Persian throne received a camera from Queen Victoria of England. The young heir fell in love with the magical contraption. In the following decades he documented his life, revealing to the public eye, what it was never supposed to see.
One of Shah Qajar’s many passions was photography. From his early days he loved to take photos from his childhood, and when he came to power he decided to create the world’s first official photo studio at his court.
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar
In the 1870s, Russian photographer Anton Sevryugin opened a workshop in Tehran. He became official photographer to the Persian court. Sevryugin made a photographic record of Persia, and he was awarded an imperial title for his services.
Naser Al-Din Shah Qajar and the photographer Sevryugin before a photoshoot.
The Russian photographer could take pictures of the Shah himself, as well as his male relatives, courtesans and servants. Qajar reserved for himself the right to photograph the harem, in which historians believe he had approximately 100 concubines.
It is known that Naser al-Din Shah developed the photos in a darkroom at the court and kept them in large albums in the Golestan palace, which is now a museum.
The main entrance to the palace of Gulistan.
What makes these photographs extraordinary is that Shiia custom of the time forbade the photography of peoples’ faces, especially those of women. Only the most powerful man in the country could afford to break this custom.
The incomparable Anis al-Doleh was the Shah’s favourite wife. (On the right)
Plumpness was one of the main criteria of beauty.
Young concubine with a hookah.
These photographs of women contradict the conventional depiction of the life in a harem.
Anis al-Doleh, known as the Shah’s soulmate.
The incomparable Anis al-Doleh (sitting).
You could even imagine that maybe the harem wives enjoyed each others’ company; in some photos picnic parties are shown.
The harem at a picnic.
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar with some of his wives.
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar with some of his wives.
The inhabitants of the harem didn’t suffer from skinniness.
From the photographs you can judge the Iranian monarch’s tastes. It’s quite clear that the women didn’t suffer from hunger and were not burdened with physical work. Experts claim that in the Golestan collection there are even nudes, but these have been well hidden.
Ladies from the harem in ‘shaliteh’ skirts.
Ladies from the harem in ‘shaliteh’ skirts.
In many of the photos the concubines are pictured in short, opulently decorated skirts called ‘shaliteh’, similar to ballet tutus. This is no coincidence.
In 1873 Naser al-Din travelled to Saint Petersburg on the invitation of Russian Tsar Alexander II. While there, he visited the ballet. According to rumor, he was so charmed by the Russian dancers, that he had his women dressed in similar skirts. Of course, the concubines could only remove their Muslim dress for the camera. On the other hand, this may be just a rumor.
http://www.vintag.es/2017/01/naser-al-din-shah-qajar-and-his-84.html
In 1842 the 11 year-old heir to the Persian throne received a camera from Queen Victoria of England. The young heir fell in love with the magical contraption. In the following decades he documented his life, revealing to the public eye, what it was never supposed to see.
One of Shah Qajar’s many passions was photography. From his early days he loved to take photos from his childhood, and when he came to power he decided to create the world’s first official photo studio at his court.
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar
In the 1870s, Russian photographer Anton Sevryugin opened a workshop in Tehran. He became official photographer to the Persian court. Sevryugin made a photographic record of Persia, and he was awarded an imperial title for his services.
Naser Al-Din Shah Qajar and the photographer Sevryugin before a photoshoot.
The Russian photographer could take pictures of the Shah himself, as well as his male relatives, courtesans and servants. Qajar reserved for himself the right to photograph the harem, in which historians believe he had approximately 100 concubines.
It is known that Naser al-Din Shah developed the photos in a darkroom at the court and kept them in large albums in the Golestan palace, which is now a museum.
The main entrance to the palace of Gulistan.
What makes these photographs extraordinary is that Shiia custom of the time forbade the photography of peoples’ faces, especially those of women. Only the most powerful man in the country could afford to break this custom.
The incomparable Anis al-Doleh was the Shah’s favourite wife. (On the right)
Plumpness was one of the main criteria of beauty.
Young concubine with a hookah.
These photographs of women contradict the conventional depiction of the life in a harem.
Anis al-Doleh, known as the Shah’s soulmate.
The incomparable Anis al-Doleh (sitting).
You could even imagine that maybe the harem wives enjoyed each others’ company; in some photos picnic parties are shown.
The harem at a picnic.
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar with some of his wives.
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar with some of his wives.
The inhabitants of the harem didn’t suffer from skinniness.
From the photographs you can judge the Iranian monarch’s tastes. It’s quite clear that the women didn’t suffer from hunger and were not burdened with physical work. Experts claim that in the Golestan collection there are even nudes, but these have been well hidden.
Ladies from the harem in ‘shaliteh’ skirts.
Ladies from the harem in ‘shaliteh’ skirts.
In many of the photos the concubines are pictured in short, opulently decorated skirts called ‘shaliteh’, similar to ballet tutus. This is no coincidence.
In 1873 Naser al-Din travelled to Saint Petersburg on the invitation of Russian Tsar Alexander II. While there, he visited the ballet. According to rumor, he was so charmed by the Russian dancers, that he had his women dressed in similar skirts. Of course, the concubines could only remove their Muslim dress for the camera. On the other hand, this may be just a rumor.
http://www.vintag.es/2017/01/naser-al-din-shah-qajar-and-his-84.html
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