Portrait of a Parsi Girl
Late 19th century CE
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS)
Mumbai, India
The 18th–19th century Parsis in Bombay started adapting the life-style of the British. As a corollary it became fashionable to get oneself portrayed and a number of Parsi portraits of this period are available today.
This portrait of a Parsi girl gives a glimpse of the attire of Parsi children of that age who would generally wear an ijar, zabla, coat and a topi. The topi shows an indication of jari embroidery which was promoted by the Parsis along with the embroidery of the garas, sari borders and coats. Her long hair is arranged in a beautiful plait. She is stylishly supporting her arm on a decorative stand. The details of her costume with their intricate decoration as well as her long plait of hair are carved with the utmost care.
The portrait could be of a young girl from one of the well-known Parsi families of Mumbai.
- Title: Portrait of a Parsi Girl
- Date Created: Late 19th century CE
- Location: India
- Provenance: Gift of Smt. Naoroji Lam
- Type: Portrait
- Medium: Ivory
- Region: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- History of Style of Technique: The birth of a child brings great joy as it ensures the growth of the family tree. His arrival in civilised society is marked with a gift of a soft mulmul zabla. According to Indian tradition, it is considered inauspicious to buy any new clothes for the new born. In fact at first the baby is made to wear old clothes of a child from the family. The used clothing is soft for the tender baby skin and it is believed that through these clothes the positive family vibes and values would pass onto the baby. The arrival of a baby is remembered by its tiny clothes; a marriage ceremony by the carefully wrapped up wedding attire; parents are remembered through the garments they pass on to their children. This is perhaps one of the reasons why we treasure heirlooms. The tiny dresses worn by our children hold sweet memories. Treasured more than any expensive garment, they are a strong symbol of love. Earlier, they were stitched and embellished by mothers, aunts, and grandmothers for the child but today the trend of such home-stitched garments is on the decline, being replaced by the variety of readymade clothing available in the market.
- Dimensions: 17.2 cms
- Accession Number: 31.92
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