{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O98533"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O98533/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O98533","accessionNumber":"E.318-2003","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Princess Ashraf  before a portrait of Soraya, Palace at Saadat Abad","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Black and white photograph of Princess Shahnaz in the background petting her poodle which is on a table, covered in lace with a framed portrait of Soraya and a bouquet of flowers in the foreground.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Troeller, Charles Gordian","id":"A12576"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"AAT25687"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gelatin-silver print","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Royalty","id":"THES48899"}],"styles":[{"text":"Photojournalism","id":"x37344"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"X","shelf":"1001","box":"C"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Tehran","id":"x35420"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"October 1958","earliest":"1958-10-01","latest":"1958-10-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by John and Juith Hillelson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"36","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'CHARLES GORDIAN / TROELLER'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Photographer's stamp."},{"content":"'COPYRIGHT / THE / JOHN HILLELSON / AGENCY / 145, FLEET ST. LONDON, E.C.4. / Tel. FLEet Street 7664 / BAYswater 7389.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Copyright stamp of John Hillelson Agency."},{"content":"'La princesse Ashraf devant le portrait de Soraya (Palais de Saadatabad).'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Princess Ashraf  before a portrait of Soraya, Palace at Saadat Abad","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Typed label fixed to back of photograph."}],"objectHistory":"This photograph was donated by John and Judith Hillelson from their collection and archive of the John Hillelson Picture Agency.\n\nHistorical significance: Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran (reg.1941-79) and Charles Gordian Troeller the first photojournalist permitted to photograph the private reception held each year in celebration of the Shah's birthday. This photograph forms part of a series of 24 photographs taken by Troeller during the festivities for the Shah's 39th birthday in 1958. The series is of historical significance as a pictorial record of a now disposed dynasty. Just 5 years prior to these photographs being taken the Shah was forced to flee Iran due to his country being increasingly dogged by political unrest in the aftermath of WWII. Having been quickly escorted back to power by a joint military operation orchestrated by British and American secret services, five years on, in these photographs, the Shah, his family and their courtiers appear to have survived the worst. \r\n \r\nLooking at these photographs now, knowing that in 1979 further political unrest would lead to the monarchy's permanent banishment (the Shah died in exile in Egypt in 1980), give these photographs an unsettling quality. The series captures the calm before the real storm.","historicalContext":"When this photograph was taken the Shah had just divorced his second wife Soraya because she failed to bear him any children.","briefDescription":"Black and white photograph of the Princess Ashraf in front of a portrait of Soraya, by Charles Gordian Troeller,Tehran, October 1958.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Tehran","id":"x35420"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.318-2003"],"accessionNumberNum":"318","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2003,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2004-05-11","availableToBook":false}}