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Private reception: the Shah speaks to his sisters, princesses Shams and Fatima

Photograph
October 1958 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Black and white photograph of the Shah of Iran, dressed in formal attire, eating whilst engaged in conversation with two women, both in strapless evening dresses, the one on the left wears glasses.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePrivate reception: the Shah speaks to his sisters, princesses Shams and Fatima (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin-silver print
Brief description
Black and white photograph of a the Shah of Iran talking to his sisters at a private reception, by Charles Gordian Troeller,Tehran, October 1958.
Physical description
Black and white photograph of the Shah of Iran, dressed in formal attire, eating whilst engaged in conversation with two women, both in strapless evening dresses, the one on the left wears glasses.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 35.9cm
  • Sheet width: 23.9cm
  • Image height: 30.2cm
  • Image width: 23.9cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'CHARLES GORDIAN / TROELLER / credit' (Photographer's stamp with 'credit' hand-written in blue biro.)
  • 'COPYRIGHT / THE / JOHN HILLELSON / AGENCY / 145, FLEET ST. LONDON, E.C.4. / Tel. FLEet Street 7664 / BAYswater 7389.' (Copyright stamp of John Hillelson Agency.)
  • 'ORIGINAL / PRINT / MUST BE / RETURNED'. (Stamp of John Hillelson Agency.)
  • 'October 1958.' (Hand-written in black crayon on the back of the photograph.)
  • 'Réception privée: Buffet. Le Chah s'entretient avec ses soeurs, les princesses Chams et Fatima.' (Typed paper label fixed on back of photograph.)
    Translation
    'Private reception: buffet. The Shah speaks with his sisters, princesses Shams and Fatima.'
  • '6 1/16" x 7 5/8" deep' (Measurements hand-written in blue biro on back of photograph.)
  • 'Obs 3 May / Rawle Knox article / Tonight certain.' (Hand-written in blue biro on back of print.)
Credit line
Given by John and Juith Hillelson
Object history
This photograph was donated by John and Judith Hillelson from their collection and archive of the John Hillelson Picture Agency.

Historical significance: Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran (reg.1941-79) and Charles Gordian Troeller the first photojournalist permitted to photograph the private reception held each year in celebration of the Shah's birthday. This photograph forms part of a series of 24 photographs taken by Troeller during the festivities for the Shah's 39th birthday in 1958. The series is of historical significance as a pictorial record of a now disposed dynasty. Just 5 years prior to these photographs being taken the Shah was forced to flee Iran due to his country being increasingly dogged by political unrest in the aftermath of WWII. Having been quickly escorted back to power by a joint military operation orchestrated by British and American secret services, five years on, in these photographs, the Shah, his family and their courtiers appear to have survived the worst.

Looking at these photographs now, knowing that in 1979 further political unrest would lead to the monarchy's permanent banishment (the Shah died in exile in Egypt in 1980), give these photographs an unsettling quality. The series captures the calm before the real storm.
Subject depicted
Place depicted
Collection
Accession number
E.311-2003

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Record createdMay 10, 2004
Record URL
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