Here is the follow-up photograph from Father’s Day last Sunday. The elder princesses wear very traditional belted sarees with woven checks this time. Black and white is appropriate, but I wish there were tinting on this image. The littlest girl’s costume is not really visible, but it is different from her sisters. The boys look more mature now; all of them seem somber. This was taken soon after the Maharaja’s death from diptheria, leaving their mother as Regent until ten-year-old Krishnaraja IV came of age. He ruled Mysore until 1940, highly praised for the cultural and technological advancements of his state.
Clio, I look forward to and enjoy your vintage Sunday saris every week. Thank you for your postings.
As a matter of interest, were the girls wearing full sized saris or scaled-down saris for children?
In last week’s painted photograph, they certainly must have had those pink and green sarees woven for them in small sizes. This week the older girls may be taller than we can tell, and wearing “regular” sarees. Of course, as children of one of the very well-to-do maharajahs of the time, all their clothes and fabrics could have been woven on demand. A group of court weavers, seamstresses and tailors is quite likely – as well as people to polish and put away all their jewellery. Glad you and other readers like the historic and vintage posts I do!
A terrific follow-up image.
Yes, one can clearly sense an overall somberness amongst the siblings, but I also detect a hint of confidence in the eldest prince.
His pose, the way he hooks his thumb into his jacket, just the look in his eyes. He posseses a definite sense of maturity, one likely spurred by his dad’s untimely death.
And check out the look in the little princess’s face in the back. She was probably straining with all her might to keep her pose and not blink during the impossibly long exposure. Cute.
Do you have any photos of their mom, the Maharani of Mysore?
Remember this older lady? One of the daughters reminds me of her. http://sareedreams.com/2011/10/vintage-saree-red-and-gold-for-royalty/
I am not sure I’ve seen any photographs of the Maharani when she was young, but I’ll look online and check in India!