Posted on: 13 January 2013

Colour lithographic print of Indian Court at The Great Exhibition, London; the central display shown here is that of the Howdah and the stuffed elephant - 1854

This image is one from the Dickinson Brothers publication entitled 'Dickinsons Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition of 1851' of lithographs from the originals painted for Prince Albert.

This lithograph shows the Indian Court in the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1851. The stuffed elephant was on loan from Saffron Walden Museum in Essex. The Koh-i-noor diamond, which had been presented to Queen Victoria in 1850, was also exhibited in the Indian Court.

The Great Exhibition included displays from British colonial territories, promoting the idea of Britain as a powerful empire. The Indian pavilion raised an interest in India, and the visitors to the India Museum in London's Whitehall doubled in 1851. The India Museum's collection was dispersed in the 1870s, and a part of that collection is now at the V&A.

Copyright: © V&A Images


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Which fool gave the Kohinoor diamond to that lady?

The Indian ruler who last had possession of the jewel wanted it to adorn Jagannath of Puri. But when the King died, he had no son, and his properties were annexed by the British as per the guidelines provided in the doctrine of lapse.

The point is that we Indians still live in slavery and apishness of the west

well they ruled us, and so exhibe ted us! we rule our selves and are still an exhibet!!!

I LOVE MY INDIA,,,,,,

Our jewels all gone :(

@Raghav Sharman...the king should have taken the step before he died since he had no son, he should have been hasty in his decision. India paid a price :(