Return to 19th-Century India   Anonymous - Hussain-Abad, Lucknow, India Full Size Contact: Alex Novak and Marthe Smith Email: info@vintageworks.net Phone: +1-215-822-5662 Company: Contemporary Works / Vintage Works, Ltd. Company: 258 Inverness Circle Company: Chalfont, PA   18914   USA URL: http://www.vintageworks.net Ref.#: 8101 Price: $2,500 Medium: Salt print Mount: on original mount Image Date: 1856 Print Date: 1856 Dimensions: 5-1/2 x 7-5/8 in. (140 x 194 mm) Photo Country: India Photographer Country: United Kingdom (UK) Description: Title, place and date (July 56) in ink, and possibly the photographer's name, which appears to be unreadable. The photographs were in an album of similar prints, including panoramas of Egypt, which indicate someone like James Graham, although there is currently no research that indicates Graham was in India. Lucknow was photographed extensively starting in 1858 after the Mutiny of 1857, but this pre-Mutiny documentation of the city is a great rarety, perhaps among the very first photographs of this area. The photo shows the Chhota Imambara in Lucknow. The third Nawab of Avadh, Muhammad Ali Shah built this imposing structure in 1840. The real name of this structure is Husainabad Imambada. The interior of this magnificent building has chandeliers from Belgium, lamp shades and other decorative pieces, which might have cost a fortune in those days. The decorations inside the building are ravishingly beautiful. Once a Prince from Russia said that this was the Kremlin of India. Inside the Imambara are the tombs of Ali Shah and his mother. Enclosed in the structure is the Royal bath or the 'Sahi Hammam'. The use of marble and arches in constructing buildings on both sides of the courtyard has prompted comparisons to the architecture of the Taj Mahal. The Imambara also houses the silver throne of Muhamad Ali Shah. Shipping and insurance costs will be added to the price and must be paid for by the buyer. Pennsylvania and New York buyers must pay appropriate sales tax. International clients are responsible for their VAT and other custom's oriented charges.