Khan Bahadur Padumjee Pestonjee
Khan Bahadur Padumjee Pestonjee (1820-1894) The first Parsi Sirdar of Deccan by Unknown artist circa 1870 Watercolour on ivory 2.5 x 2 in. (6.4 x 5.1 cm.) Born in Pune, he was a mail contractor in the Bombay presidency and Deccan. During the mutiny of 1857-58 he was awarded a gold medal and the title […]
Framjee Cowasjee Mehta
Framjee Cowasjee Mehta Editor & Proprietor, Kaiser-I-Hind by Studio artist of Kaiser-I-Hind dated 1878 Tinted lithographs 7 x 5.3 in. (18 x 13.5 cm.) Kaiser-I-Hind In 1878 the Government of India passed the Censorship Act and protests from the press had no effect. Four years later, in 1882, the newspaper Kaiser-I-Hind was founded by Framjee […]
R. H. Jalbhoy
R. H. Jalbhoy author & publisher Unknown British artist circa 1880 Tinted lithographs 11.8 x 9.8 in. (30 x 25 cms) The Portrait Gallery of Western India Embellished with 51 life-like portraits of prominent people from western India, this album has 15 Parsi portraits including that of the album’s compiler and author R. […]
Reza Shah Pahlavi
Reza Shah Pahlavi (1878-1944) and three emperors of ancient Iran Daryush, Shahpur-1, Siroos (Cyrus) by Aqa Mirza Habibullah Khan, Shiraz, Iran circa 1920 Chromolithograph printed at Hate & Co. Litho, Byculla, Bombay 15.5 x 19 in. (39.4 x 48.3 cm.) Parsi’s Motherland-IranReza Shah Pahlavi, popularly known as Reza Khan, was the first democratically elected monarch […]
Dadabhai Hormusji Dubash
Dadabhai Hormusji Dubash by Poona Chitrashala artist circa 1892 Lithograph 11.5 x 8.5 in. (29.2 x 21.6 cm.) The surname Dubash is derived of two terms, ‘Dua’ meaning two and ‘Bhash’ meaning language, meaning the one who knows two languages. Dadabhai Hormusji Dubash perhaps was an interpreter of two languages, Parsi and Chinese. He also […]
Manackji Rustomji Esq.,
Manackji Rustomji Esq., (1815-1891) The first Indian sheriff and a distinguished citizen of Calcutta by Isca, Charivari artist circa 1892 Hand coloured lithograph 11.5 x 8.5 in. (29.2 x 21.6 cm.) Belonging from the honoured Banaji family of Bombay, he moved to Calcutta in 1837, and became one of the most prosperous merchants in the […]
Lady Dhunbai Cowasji Jehangir
Lady Dhunbai Cowasji Jehangir (1860-1940) by Ravi Varma Press circa 1900 Chromolithograph 14 x 10 in. (35.6 x 25.4 cm.) Dhunbai (née Wadia) Lady Jehangir was born in the wealthy Wadia family of Bombay. She was the daughter of Ardeshir Hormusjee Wadia, and married to Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Readymoney, who was also a prominent figure […]
Spitaman Zarthushtra
Spitaman Zarthushtra (c. 1500-1000 BCE) A popular portrayal of the Iranian Prophet by Unknown artist circa 1890 Chromolithograph 20 x 14 in. (50.8 x 35.6 cm.) This 19th Century portrait is based on an image of Mithra from the bas-relief of Ardeshir II at Taq-i Bustan. He is shown holding a fire torch in his […]
Dosabhai Framji Karaka
Dosabhai Framji Karaka (1829-1902) The first Indian Chief Presidency Magistrate of Bombay and Chairman of Bombay Municipal Corporation Engraving by W. Roffe circa 1884 Steel engraving 6 x 4 in. (15.2 x 10.2 cm.) He began his life as a journalist and briefly went to England between 1858-59. He later became the first Indian Chief […]
The Parsi travellers
The Parsi travellers Standing: (L to R) Prof. Rehotzek, Rustomji Fakirji, Mancherji Narialwala, Ardesir Moos, C. N. Cama Seated: (L to R) Dr. Bhou Daji Lad, K. R. Cama Engraving by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son circa 1860 Steel engraving 6 x 9.3 in. (15.2 x 23.6 cm.) The engraving contains portraits of five Parsis, […]