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Pre 1897 thumbnails

COOCH BEHAR, MAHARANI OF
Neg. No: 2484A
Neg. Size: 15"x12"
Neg. Date: 9-11-1900

copyright V&A
Sitter: Maharani Siniti Devi, CI (18.3.1887) (b. at Sens House, Calcutta, 1864; d. at Ranchi, 10th November 1932), sometime Regent of Cooch-Behar and President of the State Council, eldest daughter of Babu Keshab Chandra Sen.  Married 5 March 1878 Colonel H.H. Maharaja Shri Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar.
 
Maharani Siniti Devi, CI (18.3.1887) (b. at Sens House, Calcutta, 1864; d. at Ranchi, 10th November 1932), sometime Regent of Cooch-Behar and President of the State Council, eldest daughter of Babu Keshab Chandra Sen. Married 5 March 1878 Colonel H.H. Maharaja Shri Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
 
Maharani of Cooch Behar
 

Biog: Daughter of Babu Keshub Chunder Sen, leader of the Brahmo Samaj; m. (1878) Maharajah Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur of Cooch Behar.

Date: 9 November 1900.

Occasion: -

Location: The Lafayette Studio, 179, New Bond Street, London.

Descr: TQL standing.

Costume: The Maharani's dress is made of silk with appliqué decoration, and a filmy muslin wrap draped over the top, perhaps recalling the Indian dupatta or orhni draped over the head and shoulders.

Costume Supplier: -

Orders, Decorations & Medals: Badge of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, [CI cr 18 March 1887]; Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal 1887, with 1897 bar.

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop.

[photo from V&A photo cd]

click on image to view enlarged detail

 
 

Photographer: Lafayette Ltd, 179 New Bond Street, London.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

All images of sitter:

Copyright: V&A

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Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

References:

Biog: Sunity Devee, Maharani of Cooch Behar, The Autobiography of an Indian Princess, London, 1921; Gayatri Devi and Santha Rama Rau, A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur, London, 1984, p 40; Maharajah of Baroda, The Palaces of India, London, 1980; Biographical information provided by Christopher J Buyers , The Royal Ark http://www.dreamwater.net/regiment/RoyalArk/royalark.htm .

Occasion: -

Costume: Rosemary Crill, Indian Department, V&A.

Costume Supplier: -

Orders, Decorations & Medals: (Badge of the Crown of India), Burke's Peerage; Sunity Devee, op cit, p. 119-120. (Jubilee Medal) Howard N. Cole, Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals 1887-1977, London, 1977, p 146; A.R. Litherland & B.T. Simpkin, Spinks Standard Catalogue of British and Associated Orders, Decorations & Medals, London, 1990.

Reproduced: -

Acknowledgements: (Costume) Rosemary Crill, Indian Department, V&A.

1. NB Pauline Rohatgi, Portraits in the India Office Library and Records, London, 1983, p 277, refers to Sunita Devi.