Fwd: Elephants may lead exhibition of Maharajas in London

[Guest guest]

VICTORY !!

Ms. Anuradha Sawhney, Chief Functionary, PETA- India wishes to share this

exclusive news with our esteemed AAPN members.

 

Let us thank both Anuradha & Craig for their efforts in making this

possible.

 

Cheers to the Captive Jumbos !!!

 

Azam

 

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Anuradha Sawhney <anuradhas

Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 8:31 PM

FW: Fwd: Elephants may lead exhibition of Maharajas in London

azam24x7

 

 

Hi Azam,

 

No real elephants or horse will be used in the exhibition - the organisers

have given it to us in writing. They wrote "

 

I can confirm that no real elephants are going to be used in

connection with this exhibition.

 

The exhibition will begin with a recreation of an Indian royal

procession, however, the elephant (and horse) in the procession are

models being created by the designers of the exhibition. I have attached

the press release for the exhibition which hopefully explains the

display. "

 

You can quote this if you wan t on AAPN.

 

Thanks

 

Anuradha

 

 

http://in.news./43/20090721/884/twl-elephants-may-lead-exhibition-of-ma\

h.html

 

Elephants may lead exhibition of Maharajas in London

 

Indo Asian News ServiceTue, Jul 21 06:15 PM

London, July 21 (IANS) A major exhibition showcasing a treasure trove

of never-seen objects owned by the former royals of India is to be

launched at London's Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, possibly heralded

by a procession of elephants and Rolls Royce cars, museum officials said

Tuesday.

The exhibition, titled Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts,

is to open in October and include objects that have never been seen

publicly in India or abroad, including thrones, a Rolls Royce and

gem-encrusted weapons.

'There has never been an exhibition like this before, showing the

spectacular treasures of the courts of the maharajas,' said V & A Director

Mark Jones.

'The exhibition will show that India's rulers were significant patrons

of the arts, in India and the West, and will tell the fascinating story

of the changing role of the maharaja from the early 18th century to the

final days of the Raj.'

Exhibition curator Anna Jackson said the show aimed to confront

stereotypical images of the Maharaja that were particularly 'pervasive'

in Britain.

Museum officials said plans under discussion to flag the exhibition in

London included a traditional Maharaja-style procession led by an

elephant dressed in ornaments.

One of the objects being exhibited is the Patiala Necklace -- part of

the largest single commission ever executed by the Paris jewellers

Cartier, the piece of jewellery contains 2,930 diamonds and weighs

nearly a thousand carats.

 

______________________

 

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts

 

10 October 2009 – 17 January 2010

 

Sponsored by Ernst & Young

 

The V & A’s autumn exhibition, Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal

Courts, will

be the first to comprehensively explore the world of the maharajas and their

extraordinarily rich culture. It will bring together over 250 magnificent

objects,

many on loan to the UK for the first time from India’s royal collections.

The

exhibition will include three thrones, a silver gilt howdah, gem-encrusted

weapons,

court paintings, photographs, a Rolls Royce, Indian turban jewels and

jewellery

commissioned from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels in the 20th century.

The exhibition will cover the period from the 18th century when the great

era of the

maharajas began to the end of British rule in 1947. It will show the

changing role of

the maharajas in an historical and social context and look at how their

patronage

of the arts both in India and Europe resulted in splendid and beautiful

commissions

designed to enhance royal status and identity.

Many of the objects have never before been seen in the UK. The royal

collections of

Udaipur and Jodhpur are lending several spectacular paintings and objects.

The

V & A will be displaying two portraits from the 1930s by Bernard Boutet de

Monvel

depicting the elegant Maharaja of Indore. One depicts him in Maratha dress

and

the other in modern Western dress. They will be shown together on public

display

for the first time.

Another object on show in the UK for the first time is the Patiala Necklace,

part of

the largest single commission that Cartier has ever executed. Completed in

1928

and restored in 2002, this piece of ceremonial jewellery originally

contained 2,930

diamonds and weighed almost a thousand carats.

The exhibition will begin with a recreation of an Indian royal procession

with a lifesized

model elephant adorned with animal jewellery, textiles and trappings and

surmounted with a silver howdah.

The initial displays will explore ideas of kingship in India and the role of

the

maharaja as religious leader, military and political ruler and artistic

patron.

Symbols of kingship will include a gaddi (throne) from Udaipur, elaborate

turban

jewels, ceremonial swords and a gold ankus (elephant goad) set with

diamonds.

A palanquin from Jodhpur used to carry the Maharaja’s wife will provide a

rare

glimpse into the lives of ladies at the royal court. The interior of the

palanquin

contains original framed prints and cushions.

The next section of the exhibition will focus on the shifts of power and

taste in the

18th and early 19th centuries. The disintegration of the Mughal Empire led

to a

period of political change in which rival Indian kings laid claim to

territory. On

display will be the golden throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who united the

warring

factions of the Punjab into a powerful Sikh state, as well as weapons and

armour

owned by Tipu Sultan of Mysore and the Maratha ruler Yeshwant Rao Holkar of

Indore.

This period also witnessed the rapid expansion of the territorial interests

of the

English East India Company. This led to a new hybrid Anglo-Indian style

which will

be seen in objects such as a Spode dinner service and an Egyptian-revival

style chair

designed for the Nawab of Awadh.

The exhibition will then look at the grand imperial durbars of the Raj

through

large-scale paintings and rare archive film footage. This section will

include a

carpet of pearls, rubies, emeralds and diamonds made for the Maharaja of

Baroda

and exhibited at the durbar of 1903.

The final section will explore the role of the ‘modern’ maharajas during the

Raj and

the increasing European influence on their lives. The exhibition will show

how they

were portrayed in both Indian and European style through portraits of the

maharajas and their wives by photographers and artists including Man Ray,

Cecil

Beaton and Raja Ravi Varma.

The maharajas’ patronage of European firms resulted in luxurious

commissions. On

display will be saris designed by leading French couture houses, a costume

by

Madeleine Vionnet, a diamond and emerald necklace designed by Van Cleef &

Arpels, a Rolls Royce and a Louis Vuitton travelling case.

The maharajas were also patrons of the emerging European avant-garde. The

exhibition will include modernist furniture commissioned by the Maharaja of

Indore for his palace in the 1930s and architectural designs for the Umaid

Bhawan

palace, an Art Deco style residence commissioned by the Maharaja of Jodhpur.

Mark Jones, Director of the V & A, said: “There has never been an exhibition

like this

before, showing the spectacular treasures of the courts of the maharajas.

Many of

the objects are leaving India for the first time to come to the V & A. This

exhibition will

show that India’s rulers were significant patrons of the arts, in India and

the West,

and will tell the fascinating story of the changing role of the maharaja

from the early

18th century to the final days of the Raj.”

After the V & A, Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts will tour to

Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Munich, Germany from 12 February to 23

May

2010.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts is at the V & A from 10

October 2009 to

17 January 2010

The exhibition will feature a number of objects on loan from the royal

collections of

Udaipur and Jodhpur. Works are also being lent from the royal families of

Baroda,

Bahawalpur, Bikaner, Gwalior and Kapurthala.

The exhibition is curated by Anna Jackson, Deputy Keeper of the V & A’s Asian

Department, with consultant curator Amin Jaffer, International Director of

Asian

Art at Christies and research curator Deepika Ahlawat.

The exhibition designers are Urban Salon.

An accompanying book of the same title will be produced by V & A Publishing.

For

further press information about the book contact Julie Chan on 020 7942 2701

or

07747 607 822 or email j.chan

For press information on merchandise accompanying the exhibition contact

Lee Kendall on 020 7942 2681 or email l.kendall

Ticket Information

Tickets: £11 (concessions available). For advance telephone and online

bookings (booking fee

applies) call 0844 209 1770 or visit www.vam.ac.uk

For further PRESS information please contact Alex Bratt in the V & A press

office on

0207 942 2503 or email a.bratt

 

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

 

 

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

---------- Forwarded message ----------

azam24x7 <azam24x7

Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM

Fwd: FW: Fwd: Elephants may lead exhibition of Maharajas in London

AAPN List <aapn >

 

 

CAPS re-confirms the Good news !

Thanks so much once again Craig. This is just wonderful news.

 

best wishes.

 

Azam

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

CAPS (Craig) <craig

Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 1:05 PM

Re: FW: Fwd: Elephants may lead exhibition of Maharajas in London

azam24x7 <azam24x7

 

 

We had the same reply, so this is good news. Thanks Azam for alerting us to

this.

Best wishes

Craig

 

 

Dear Craig,

 

I can confirm that no real elephants are going to be used in connection

with this exhibition.

 

The exhibition will begin with a recreation of an Indian royal procession,

however, the elephant (and horse) in the procession are models being created

by the designers of the exhibition. I have attached the press release for

the exhibition which hopefully explains the display.

 

If you have further concerns do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Best wishes,

 

Alex

 

Alex Bratt

Press Officer

Victoria and Albert Museum

South Kensington, London SW7 2RL

T: +44 (0)20 7942 2503

M: +44 (0)7704 921371

F: +44 (0)20 7942 2496

 

-

** azam24x7 <azam24x7

*To:* aapn

*Sent:* Thursday, July 23, 2009 4:33 PM

*Subject:* Fwd: FW: Fwd: Elephants may lead exhibition of Maharajas in

London

 

VICTORY !!

Ms. Anuradha Sawhney, Chief Functionary, PETA- India wishes to share this

exclusive news with our esteemed AAPN members.

 

Let us thank both Anuradha & Craig for their efforts in making this

possible.

 

Cheers to the Captive Jumbos !!!

 

Azam

 

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Anuradha Sawhney <anuradhas

Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 8:31 PM

FW: Fwd: Elephants may lead exhibition of Maharajas in London

azam24x7

 

 

Hi Azam,

 

No real elephants or horse will be used in the exhibition - the organisers

have given it to us in writing. They wrote "

 

I can confirm that no real elephants are going to be used in

connection with this exhibition.

 

The exhibition will begin with a recreation of an Indian royal

procession, however, the elephant (and horse) in the procession are

models being created by the designers of the exhibition. I have attached

the press release for the exhibition which hopefully explains the

display. "

 

You can quote this if you wan t on AAPN.

 

Thanks

 

Anuradha

 

 

http://in.news./43/20090721/884/twl-elephants-may-lead-exhibition-of-ma\

h.html

 

Elephants may lead exhibition of Maharajas in London

 

Indo Asian News ServiceTue, Jul 21 06:15 PM

London, July 21 (IANS) A major exhibition showcasing a treasure trove

of never-seen objects owned by the former royals of India is to be

launched at London's Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, possibly heralded

by a procession of elephants and Rolls Royce cars, museum officials said

Tuesday.

The exhibition, titled Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts,

is to open in October and include objects that have never been seen

publicly in India or abroad, including thrones, a Rolls Royce and

gem-encrusted weapons.

'There has never been an exhibition like this before, showing the

spectacular treasures of the courts of the maharajas,' said V & A Director

Mark Jones.

'The exhibition will show that India's rulers were significant patrons

of the arts, in India and the West, and will tell the fascinating story

of the changing role of the maharaja from the early 18th century to the

final days of the Raj.'

Exhibition curator Anna Jackson said the show aimed to confront

stereotypical images of the Maharaja that were particularly 'pervasive'

in Britain.

Museum officials said plans under discussion to flag the exhibition in

London included a traditional Maharaja-style procession led by an

elephant dressed in ornaments.

One of the objects being exhibited is the Patiala Necklace -- part of

the largest single commission ever executed by the Paris jewellers

Cartier, the piece of jewellery contains 2,930 diamonds and weighs

nearly a thousand carats.

 

______________________

 

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts

 

10 October 2009 – 17 January 2010

 

Sponsored by Ernst & Young

 

The V & A’s autumn exhibition, Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal

Courts, will

be the first to comprehensively explore the world of the maharajas and their

extraordinarily rich culture. It will bring together over 250 magnificent

objects,

many on loan to the UK for the first time from India’s royal collections.

The

exhibition will include three thrones, a silver gilt howdah, gem-encrusted

weapons,

court paintings, photographs, a Rolls Royce, Indian turban jewels and

jewellery

commissioned from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels in the 20th century.

The exhibition will cover the period from the 18th century when the great

era of the

maharajas began to the end of British rule in 1947. It will show the

changing role of

the maharajas in an historical and social context and look at how their

patronage

of the arts both in India and Europe resulted in splendid and beautiful

commissions

designed to enhance royal status and identity.

Many of the objects have never before been seen in the UK. The royal

collections of

Udaipur and Jodhpur are lending several spectacular paintings and objects.

The

V & A will be displaying two portraits from the 1930s by Bernard Boutet de

Monvel

depicting the elegant Maharaja of Indore. One depicts him in Maratha dress

and

the other in modern Western dress. They will be shown together on public

display

for the first time.

Another object on show in the UK for the first time is the Patiala Necklace,

part of

the largest single commission that Cartier has ever executed. Completed in

1928

and restored in 2002, this piece of ceremonial jewellery originally

contained 2,930

diamonds and weighed almost a thousand carats.

The exhibition will begin with a recreation of an Indian royal procession

with a lifesized

model elephant adorned with animal jewellery, textiles and trappings and

surmounted with a silver howdah.

The initial displays will explore ideas of kingship in India and the role of

the

maharaja as religious leader, military and political ruler and artistic

patron.

Symbols of kingship will include a gaddi (throne) from Udaipur, elaborate

turban

jewels, ceremonial swords and a gold ankus (elephant goad) set with

diamonds.

A palanquin from Jodhpur used to carry the Maharaja’s wife will provide a

rare

glimpse into the lives of ladies at the royal court. The interior of the

palanquin

contains original framed prints and cushions.

The next section of the exhibition will focus on the shifts of power and

taste in the

18th and early 19th centuries. The disintegration of the Mughal Empire led

to a

period of political change in which rival Indian kings laid claim to

territory. On

display will be the golden throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who united the

warring

factions of the Punjab into a powerful Sikh state, as well as weapons and

armour

owned by Tipu Sultan of Mysore and the Maratha ruler Yeshwant Rao Holkar of

Indore.

This period also witnessed the rapid expansion of the territorial interests

of the

English East India Company. This led to a new hybrid Anglo-Indian style

which will

be seen in objects such as a Spode dinner service and an Egyptian-revival

style chair

designed for the Nawab of Awadh.

The exhibition will then look at the grand imperial durbars of the Raj

through

large-scale paintings and rare archive film footage. This section will

include a

carpet of pearls, rubies, emeralds and diamonds made for the Maharaja of

Baroda

and exhibited at the durbar of 1903.

The final section will explore the role of the ‘modern’ maharajas during the

Raj and

the increasing European influence on their lives. The exhibition will show

how they

were portrayed in both Indian and European style through portraits of the

maharajas and their wives by photographers and artists including Man Ray,

Cecil

Beaton and Raja Ravi Varma.

The maharajas’ patronage of European firms resulted in luxurious

commissions. On

display will be saris designed by leading French couture houses, a costume

by

Madeleine Vionnet, a diamond and emerald necklace designed by Van Cleef &

Arpels, a Rolls Royce and a Louis Vuitton travelling case.

The maharajas were also patrons of the emerging European avant-garde. The

exhibition will include modernist furniture commissioned by the Maharaja of

Indore for his palace in the 1930s and architectural designs for the Umaid

Bhawan

palace, an Art Deco style residence commissioned by the Maharaja of Jodhpur.

Mark Jones, Director of the V & A, said: “There has never been an exhibition

like this

before, showing the spectacular treasures of the courts of the maharajas.

Many of

the objects are leaving India for the first time to come to the V & A. This

exhibition will

show that India’s rulers were significant patrons of the arts, in India and

the West,

and will tell the fascinating story of the changing role of the maharaja

from the early

18th century to the final days of the Raj.”

After the V & A, Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts will tour to

Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Munich, Germany from 12 February to 23

May

2010.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts is at the V & A from 10

October 2009 to

17 January 2010

The exhibition will feature a number of objects on loan from the royal

collections of

Udaipur and Jodhpur. Works are also being lent from the royal families of

Baroda,

Bahawalpur, Bikaner, Gwalior and Kapurthala.

The exhibition is curated by Anna Jackson, Deputy Keeper of the V & A’s Asian

Department, with consultant curator Amin Jaffer, International Director of

Asian

Art at Christies and research curator Deepika Ahlawat.

The exhibition designers are Urban Salon.

An accompanying book of the same title will be produced by V & A Publishing.

For

further press information about the book contact Julie Chan on 020 7942 2701

or

07747 607 822 or email j.chan

For press information on merchandise accompanying the exhibition contact

Lee Kendall on 020 7942 2681 or email l.kendall

Ticket Information

Tickets: £11 (concessions available). For advance telephone and online

bookings (booking fee

applies) call 0844 209 1770 or visit www.vam.ac.uk

For further PRESS information please contact Alex Bratt in the V & A press

office on

0207 942 2503 or email a.bratt