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The Principal table servant

Photograph
mid 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

"Khansamah or The Principal Table Servant"
"The main servant who superintends all the table arrangements, takes orders for dinner and purchases the requisites for daily consumption. The photograph illustrates the form of announcing dinner. 'Khana mez parhai, Dinner is on the table'. Wages from Rs.8-Rs.12 per month".


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • The Principal table servant
  • Khansamah (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Photograph
Brief description
Carte De Visite, Illustrations of Anglo Indian Life, Principal Table Servant, India, 19th century.
Physical description
"Khansamah or The Principal Table Servant"
"The main servant who superintends all the table arrangements, takes orders for dinner and purchases the requisites for daily consumption. The photograph illustrates the form of announcing dinner. 'Khana mez parhai, Dinner is on the table'. Wages from Rs.8-Rs.12 per month".
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.2cm
  • Width: 10cm
Object history
The descriptive caption written on the back of the Carte De Visite is part of a series highlighting 'Illustrations of Anglo-Indian Life', published ca. 1860 by J.L. Lyell in Musoorie and Allahabad, India.
Historical context
Between 1860-1900 numerous photographs were taken, predominantly by the middle to upper classes of Victorian society, to record family portraits and scenes of every day life. The photographs were mounted on small cards measuring approximately 2.5 x 4 inches, to compliment the size of visiting cards, and became known as Carte De Visite. Today these Carte De Visite provide a good record of the clothing worn during the colonial period in India and the varied occupations of native people.
Subject depicted
Bibliographic reference
Lyell, J.L "Illustrations of Anglo-Indian Life", Musoorie and Allahabad, India. (No date).
Collection
Accession number
PH.510-1885

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Record createdJune 17, 2003
Record URL
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