Two framed original photographs: one of
Maharaja Chandra Shumshere, Rana of
Nepal, & one of a granddaughter
Nepal, circa 1910
Maharaja Chandra Shumshere photograph:
height: 27cm, width: 19cm
with frames: height: 43cm, width: 36cm
Toned platinum print
Granddaughter photograph:
height: 28cm, width: 18cm
with frames: height: 45.5cm, width: 38cm
Gelatin silver print by Herzog & Higgins
(Central India)
The reverse of the photograph of the
granddaughter reads in handwritten black ink,
'daughter of Genl. Mohun Shum Sere Jung
Bahadoor, eldest son of H.H. Maharaja Shum
Sere Jung Bahadoor Rana GCB, GCMG,
GCSI, GCVO DcL (Oxford)' and then 'aged 15
years + 10 months'.
Maharaja Chandra Shumshere became
Maharaja and prime minister of Nepal in 1901
at the age of 38. He ruled for the next 29
years. He built the massive 1,400 room palace,
the Singha Durbar, in Kathmandu to house the
government.
He was succeeded as Maharaja and prime
minister by several of his sons including Mohun
whose daughter is shown in the accompanying
photograph.
The position of prime minister of Nepal was
hereditary and was passed down along the
male members of the Rana family. The Ranas
came to have more power than the kings of
Nepal who were supplied by another Nepalese
family. The Rana regime ended in 1951.
Both images show the posers with their
elaborate court jewels. That of Maharaja
Chandra Shumshere shows him wearing the
spectacular Rana headgear known as a
sirpech, which comprised a cap covered with
diamonds, pearls, rubies and with a fringe of
large suspended emeralds and plumes of the
Bird of paradise.
Inventory no.: 521
Maharaja Chandra Shumshere, Rana of
Nepal, & one of a granddaughter
Nepal, circa 1910
Maharaja Chandra Shumshere photograph:
height: 27cm, width: 19cm
with frames: height: 43cm, width: 36cm
Toned platinum print
Granddaughter photograph:
height: 28cm, width: 18cm
with frames: height: 45.5cm, width: 38cm
Gelatin silver print by Herzog & Higgins
(Central India)
The reverse of the photograph of the
granddaughter reads in handwritten black ink,
'daughter of Genl. Mohun Shum Sere Jung
Bahadoor, eldest son of H.H. Maharaja Shum
Sere Jung Bahadoor Rana GCB, GCMG,
GCSI, GCVO DcL (Oxford)' and then 'aged 15
years + 10 months'.
Maharaja Chandra Shumshere became
Maharaja and prime minister of Nepal in 1901
at the age of 38. He ruled for the next 29
years. He built the massive 1,400 room palace,
the Singha Durbar, in Kathmandu to house the
government.
He was succeeded as Maharaja and prime
minister by several of his sons including Mohun
whose daughter is shown in the accompanying
photograph.
The position of prime minister of Nepal was
hereditary and was passed down along the
male members of the Rana family. The Ranas
came to have more power than the kings of
Nepal who were supplied by another Nepalese
family. The Rana regime ended in 1951.
Both images show the posers with their
elaborate court jewels. That of Maharaja
Chandra Shumshere shows him wearing the
spectacular Rana headgear known as a
sirpech, which comprised a cap covered with
diamonds, pearls, rubies and with a fringe of
large suspended emeralds and plumes of the
Bird of paradise.
Inventory no.: 521
