The Baroda Menagerie

Sacred bullocks and the silver zenana state carriage

Photograph of a golden carriage at Baroda, Gujarat from the Curzon Collection, taken by an unknown photographer during the 1890s. The two-wheeled solid gold carriage is drawn by caparisoned bullocks and belonged to Gaekwar Sayaji Rao III (ruled 1875-1939), 12th Maharaja of Baroda.

Photograph of a silver zenana carriage at Baroda, Gujarat from the Curzon Collection, taken by an unknown photographer during the 1890s. The enclosed carriage ensured the seclusion of female members of the royal household when travelling. The confinement of Indian women within the family home or behind a veil was known as purdah, and zenana was the name given to segregated women’s quarters. The lavishly decorated two-wheeled carriage is drawn by caparisoned bullocks and belonged to Gaekwar Sayaji Rao III (ruled 1875-1939), 12th Maharaja of Baroda.