Search Results

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (Notes (266 leaves), various small dimensions)

Type:

Archival materials

Notes

Studio portraits

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1944

Scope and Contents:

- Information from Archives staff reads, "266 handwritten identifications on slips of paper (from a 1943-1944 cash book, produced by the Bathni Brothers, Tehran)."

- Additional information from initial Sevruguin Finding Aid reads, "Handwritten identifications recorded on scraps of paper were housed with nearly 300 photonegatives in this collection."

Arrangement:

According to past F/S Archives staff, . Today they are housed in archival document boxes, essentially duplicating the original arrangement, and stored on shelves. This glass negative was included into "Box 61."

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, leaving behind only a fraction of his large collection of glass negatives, which is currently in the Archives of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Local Numbers:

FSA A.04 2.12.GN.Identifications

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Archives staff.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Genre/Form:

Notes

Studio portraits

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.04 2.12.GN.Identifications

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.01: Glass Plate Negatives

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc36cb449d2-f678-4f44-9dd3-4859d310fefd

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref10615

Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (Notes (20 leaves), 21.7 cm. x 28 cm)

Container:

Box 60, Folder 44

Type:

Archival materials

Notes

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1950s

Scope and Contents:

Myron Bement Smith's List of 696 Sevruguin Glass Plate Negatives: from Myron Bement Smith Collection; Series 2: The Islamic Archives [graphic]

Arrangement:

According to Myron B. Smith handwritten document (Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran), Antoin Sevruguin's 696 glass negatives, at the time of their acquisition, were arranged into 61 boxes without any apparent organization. Today they are housed in archival document boxes, essentially duplicating the original arrangement, and stored on shelves. This glass negative was not included into any of the original boxes.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, leaving behind only a fraction of his large collection of glass negatives, which is currently in the Archives of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Local Numbers:

[Myron Bement Smith Collection; Series 2: The Islamic Archives; Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44; 47P]

FSA A.04 2.1.60.47P

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Archives staff.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Genre/Form:

Notes

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.04 2.1.60.47P

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc37205a629-20a2-458c-b2dc-ad0dcbd48a47

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref7491

Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (Notes (2 leaves), 21.7 cm. x 28 cm)

Container:

Box 61, Folder 5

Type:

Archival materials

Notes

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1928-1953

Scope and Contents:

Joseph Upton's List of 66 Sevruguin Gelatin Silver Prints: from Myron Bement Smith Collection; Series 2: The Islamic Archives [graphic]

Arrangement:

According to Joseph Upton handwritten document (Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 61; Folder 5: 58G Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran), Antoin Sevruguin's 66 gelatin silver prints are arranged in sequential number following Joseph Upton's handwritten list of captions.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

[Myron Bement Smith Collection; Series 2: The Islamic Archives; Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 61; Folder 5; 58G]

FSA A.04 2.1.61.58G

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Archives staff.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Genre/Form:

Notes

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.04 2.1.61.58G

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3deac7f27-7439-4505-8b81-4f1cca85a2d0

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref7496

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Glass negative (b&w, 12.8 cm. x 17.8 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Glass negatives

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1880-1928

Scope and Contents:

- Handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "321."

- Handwritten information on slip of paper (from a 1943-1944 cash book, produced by the Bathni Brothers, Tehran) reads, "369) A beggar." [Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information]

- Myron Bement Smith handwritten caption in English reads, "47.P; Box 57.1: A beggar (#369)." [Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P: Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran]

Arrangement:

According to Myron B. Smith handwritten document (Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran), Antoin Sevruguin's 696 glass negatives, at the time of their acquisition, were arranged into 61 boxes without any apparent organization. Today they are housed in archival document boxes, essentially duplicating the original arrangement, and stored on shelves. This glass negative was included into "Box 57."

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, leaving behind only a fraction of his large collection of glass negatives, which is currently in the Archives of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Local Numbers:

FSA A.4 2.12.GN.57.01

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Portrait photography  Search this

Genre/Form:

Glass negatives

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.4 2.12.GN.57.01

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.01: Glass Plate Negatives / Glass Plate Negatives: Sets 1-61

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3a4991a66-1da1-45d4-b37f-94af9c9799dc

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref10554

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Collection Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Albumen print (b&w, 15.7 cm. x 20.7 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photographic prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1880s-1930s

Scope and Contents:

"Unlike many other photos of the same subject matter, this image of the three beggers is taken outside the photograher's studio, most probably in Maydan-I Mashq. Compared to the other images with similar subject matters, the composition of this image also seems less structured." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- On recto of the print, handwritten number in white (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "140."

- On verso of the print, handwritten caption (penciled, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) in French reads, "Dervichs."

- On verso of the print, handwritten number (penciled) reads, "40."

Arrangement:

One of 18 albumen prints, without any apparent organization, housed in document boxes and stored on shelves.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

A.5-4

B-7

FSA A.15 07

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Clothing and dress  Search this

Dervishes  Search this

headgear  Search this

Portrait photography  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

Jay Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs. FSA.A.15. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Jay Bisno, 1985

Identifier:

FSA.A.15, Item FSA A.15 07

See more items in:

Jay A. Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc32fa2214e-96fe-459c-a488-e31a06c3a9dc

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-15-ref7

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Collection Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Albumen print (b&w, 15.6 cm. x 20.6 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photographic prints

Studio portraits

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1880s-1930s

Scope and Contents:

"An old prisoner and his guard are photographed standing side by side inside a studio setting. While the prisonor is looking away from the camera, the guard engages the gaze of the viewer and the lens. The prisonor seems to carry a tied up piece of rope and his guard is carrying the remains of the chain on the prisonor's neck." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- On recto of the print, handwritten number in white (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "1264."

- On verso of the print, handwritten caption (penciled, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) in French reads, "Un brigand."

- On verso of the print, handwritten number (penciled) reads, "36."

Arrangement:

One of 18 albumen prints, without any apparent organization, housed in document boxes and stored on shelves.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

A.5-10

B-14

FSA A.15 14

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Clothing and dress  Search this

Criminal procedure  Search this

headgear  Search this

Portrait photography  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photographic prints

Studio portraits

Collection Citation:

Jay Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs. FSA.A.15. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Jay Bisno, 1985

Identifier:

FSA.A.15, Item FSA A.15 14

See more items in:

Jay A. Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc38320b65f-34be-4bda-886c-93e241059bce

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-15-ref15

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Collection Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Albumen print (b&w, 20.7 cm. x 15.7 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photographic prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1880s-1930s

Scope and Contents:

"Public display of punishment - be it bastinado, showing of prisoners in chains, hanging or stoning - comprise a group of photos in Sevruguin collection. A thorough study of this set can yield unexpected results in the matter of uses of violence and punishment in the first few years of 20th century in Iran. The images of bastinado as a usual form of punishment in the 'orient' are prevalent also in the travelogues and other similar publications of around 1900s. Sevruguin's photos are both published in such books and journal entries and utilized as models for lithographs and paintings in them." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- On recto of the print, handwritten number in white (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "299."

- On verso of the print, handwritten caption (penciled), probably by Antoin Sevruguin in French reads, "Bastanad [Bastonade]."

- On verso of the print, handwritten number (penciled) reads, "33."

Arrangement:

One of 18 albumen prints, without any apparent organization, housed in document boxes and stored on shelves.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

33

B-17

FSA A.15 17

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Criminal procedure  Search this

Executions and executioners  Search this

headgear  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

Jay Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs. FSA.A.15. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Jay Bisno, 1985

Identifier:

FSA.A.15, Item FSA A.15 17

See more items in:

Jay A. Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc330df565d-6032-489d-90a9-20b0a89911de

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-15-ref18

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (album (120 photoprints))

Culture:

Qajar dynasty -- Iran -- 1794-1925  Search this

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Studio portraits

Photographs

Place:

Asia

Iran

Bandar Anzalī (Iran)

Iṣfahān (Iran)

Tehran (Iran)

Date:

undated

Scope and Contents:

Black leather bound album of 119 albumen prints and one silver gelatin print. Prints are likely produced by the studio of photographer Antoin Sevruguin in the 1870s and 80s in his early career in Iran. Includes handwritten captions in Persian. Many of the prints have an unusually purplish tone.

Arrangement:

images indexed by original order in the album

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin managed and operated one of the most successful commercial photography studios in Tehran in the late 19th century. Born in the 1840s in Iran, Sevruguin's mother returned with her children to her hometown of Tbilisi after his father Vassil, a Russian diplomat in Iran, died in a horse riding accident. Trained as a painter, Sevruguin returned to Iran in the early 1870s accompanied by his two brothers, establishing a photography studio first in Tabriz and then Tehran. His studio's ties to Tbilisi, however, persisted through the years; many of the early portraits of Dervishes and women have been simultaneously attributed to Antoin Sevruguin and Dimitri Yermakov, the Georgian photographer who is often referred to as Sevruguin's mentor from Tbilisi. Many of Antoin Sevruguin's photographs were published as early as 1885 in travelogues, journals and books indicating that by that time he had a fully established practice in Tehran's Ala al-Dawla street, with ties to the court of Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar. Often unacknowledged as the producer of published images in his own time - the 1902 photographic survey of Persepolis being the most glaring of such authorial misrepresentations - he was nevertheless celebrated and acknowledged for his artistic vision and his keen eye for composition, achieving the Medal of Lion and Sun from Nasir al-Din Shah, the 1897 Medal of Honour in the Brussels International Exposition, and the 1900 Medal of Honour in Paris International Exposition. Reflecting a career that spans nearly half a century, Sevruguin's diverse body of work includes studio portraits of families, women and dervishes, survey photographs of archeological sites, objects, landscapes and architecture, and photographs of royalty, high officials and ceremonies of the Qajar court. The range of his output not only demonstrates his own pictorial concerns and artistic abilities but also the divergent interests of his clients. Despite numerous devastating incidents throughout his career - the loss of more than half of his negatives in a 1908 blast and fire, an unsuccessful attempt at diversifying into cinematography in the 1910s, and the confiscation of the remainder of his negatives in the mid-1920s to name a few - his studio remained operational even after his death in 1933. A number of negatives from the Sevruguin studio can be dated to the years after Antoin's death, indicating that the Sevruguin studio continued to be commercially viable. As one of the most prolific early commercial photographers in Iran, Antoin Sevruguin's artistic legacy has since proved far more enduring.

Local Numbers:

FSA A2015.09

Provenance:

Purchase; 2015.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Qajar dynasty, -- Iran, -- 1794-1925  Search this

Architecture  Search this

Clothing and dress  Search this

Landscapes  Search this

Hairstyles  Search this

headgear  Search this

Jewelry  Search this

Military  Search this

Musical instruments  Search this

Palaces  Search this

Portrait photography  Search this

Religious buildings  Search this

Royalty (Nobility)  Search this

Street vendors  Search this

Women  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Studio portraits

Photographs

Citation:

Album of Persian Photographs, FSA.A2015.09. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

Identifier:

FSA.A2015.09

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3d92411ad-af18-46ff-b435-5770b3c37b6d

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-fsa-a2015-09

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Collection Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Albumen print (b&w, 15.7 cm. x 20.9 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photographic prints

Studio portraits

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1880-1907

Scope and Contents:

"Standing portrait of Mirza Ali Asghar Khan-i Amin al-Sultan (b.1843-d.1907). Amin al-Sultan was the chief minister of three Qajar kings - Nasir Al-Din Shah, Muzaffar Al-Din Shah and Muhammad Ali Shah - until he was assassinated in 1907, during Muhammad Ali Shah's reign. The print has a partial signature of Amin al-Sultan on the bottom, noting that it might have been a gift to someone." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- On recto of the print, handwritten number in white (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "83."

- On verso of the print, handwritten caption (penciled, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) in French reads, "Atabeq Azam."

- On verso of the print, handwritten number (penciled) reads, "5."

Arrangement:

One of 18 albumen prints, without any apparent organization, housed in document boxes and stored on shelves.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

A.5-9

B-5

FSA A.15 05

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

headgear  Search this

Portrait photography  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photographic prints

Studio portraits

Collection Citation:

Jay Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs. FSA.A.15. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Jay Bisno, 1985

Identifier:

FSA.A.15, Item FSA A.15 05

See more items in:

Jay A. Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc31810eddb-680f-4a3d-8a4b-10af4d260eb0

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-15-ref5

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Glass negative (b&w, 17.9 cm. x 12.9 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Glass negatives

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1880-1930

Scope and Contents:

"The photo depicts a tent in a campsite with people sitting under the tent, on the edge of the carpet in front of it and standing on both sides of it. The focus of the image though seems to be the figures sitting in the darkest part of the image, under the tent. The most visible of these figures, sitting on the right side of the group under the tent is Amin al-Sultan, the vizier of Nasir al-Din Shah, Muzaffar al-Din Shah and Muhammad Ail Shah. The other figures, through repeating in some of the other royal images, are not identified. The people standing on the either sides of the tent carry trays of covered and uncovered plates along with breads and two pieces of cloth. the group seems to be on the verge of being served their lunches, with the attendants bringing the plates and dinning cloths. Interesting to note in another figure under the tent, holding a pen and paper, seemingly in the midst of writing something of official stature." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- FSg curatorial research specialist remark on Antoin Sevruguin photo condition reads, "The four sides are chopped off."

- Handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "1076."

- Myron Bement Smith handwritten caption in English reads, "47.P; Box 56.11: Camp." [Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P: Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran]

Arrangement:

According to Myron B. Smith handwritten document (Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran), Antoin Sevruguin's 696 glass negatives, at the time of their acquisition, were arranged into 61 boxes without any apparent organization. Today they are housed in archival document boxes, essentially duplicating the original arrangement, and stored on shelves. This glass negative was included into "Box 56."

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, leaving behind only a fraction of his large collection of glass negatives, which is currently in the Archives of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Local Numbers:

FSA A.4 2.12.GN.56.11

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Genre/Form:

Glass negatives

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.4 2.12.GN.56.11

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.01: Glass Plate Negatives / Glass Plate Negatives: Sets 1-61

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc39fd6cee2-48f9-43b5-9ebe-cd42868ee3a7

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref10552

Collector:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Photographer:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Muzaffar al-Dīn Shāh, Shah of Iran, 1853-1907  Search this

Nāsir al-Dīn Shāh, Shah of Iran, 1831-1896  Search this

Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, 1878-1944  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

66 Photographic prints (various dimensions)

695 Glass negatives (b&w, 13 cm. x 18 cm)

98 Photographic prints (various dimensions)

Type:

Archival materials

Photographic prints

Glass negatives

Gelatin silver prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Iraq

India

Uzbekistan

Baghdad (Iraq)

Basṭām (Iran)

Bīshāpūr (Extinct city)

Dāmghān (Iran)

Delhi (India)

Fīrūzābād (Iran)

Hamadān (Iran)

Iṣfahān (Iran)

Naqsh-i Rustam (Iran)

Pasargadae (Extinct city)

Persepolis (Iran)

Taq-e Bostan Site (Iran)

Tehran (Iran)

Date:

1880s-1933

Scope and Contents:

Antoin Sevruguin operated a successful commercial photography studio in Tehran and was a court photographer to Nasr ed-Din Shah and succeeding Qajar rulers. Sevruguin's daughter and heir donated his glass negatives to the American Presbyterian Mission in Tehran. The Committee for Islamic Culture, which administered the Islamic Archives, purchased 695 negatives from the Presbyterian Mission in 1951. The collection also includes 164 silver gelatin prints, 98 acquired by Myron Bement Smith(MBS) in 1934 and 66 donated by Joseph Upton in 1953. The glass negatives are numbered but without apparent organization. MBS organized his photoprints into subject categories. Upton's photoprints are numbered according to a handwritten caption list. [Located Bay 7] For specific information on items in the collection search Sevruguin on the Smithsonian Collections Search Center web site http://collections.si.edu .

- 66 black-and-white gelatin silver photoprints, unmounted, were a gift from Joseph Upton, received by the committee for Islamic Culture, as reported in their official minutes of October 24, 1953. The 66 photoprints were initially purchased by Joseph Upton in 1928 from Antoin Sevruguin in Tehran.

- 695 glass negatives were included into the "Islamic Archives," which was administered jontly by the committee for Islamic Culture and the committee for Arabic and Islamic Studies of the American Council of Learned Societies. According to the official minutes, the committee for Islamic Culture reported purchasing the 696 glass plates during their fiscal years 1951-1952 from the American Presbyterian Mission in Tehran. Antoin Sevruguin's daughter gave these plates to the mission with instruction that they be sold for the benefit of the mission.

- 98 gelatin silver photoprints were collected by Myron Bement Smith after he viewed a portion of Sevruguin's negatives in 1934 ( these include recent finds in the Myron Bement Smith collection).

In addition of Antoin Sevruguin's 695 glass negatives and 164 silver gelatin prints in the Myron Bement Smith collection the Archives holds: 18 albumen prints in theJay Bisno Collection of Sevruguin Photographs (FSA A.15); 34 photographic prints in the Ernst Herzfeld Papers (FSA A.6); as well as a photograph album and individual albumen prints donated by Stephen Arpee (FSA A2011.03). Finally, the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives also own 3 separate gelatin silver prints.

Myron Bement Smith Collection: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs

Arrangement:

- 66 gelatin silver prints are arranged in sequential number following Joseph Upton's handwritten list of captions, and ultimately organized by Myron B. Smith into subject categories (royalty, people, executions, criminals, punishment, architecture).

- 695 glass negatives, numbered, without any apparent organization, are housed in document boxes and stored on shelves.

- 98 gelatin silver prints are organized by Myron B. Smith into subject categories (people, architecture, royalty, landscape).

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin managed and operated one of the most successful commercial photography studios in Tehran in the late 19th century. Born in the 1840s in Iran, Sevruguin's mother returned with her children to her hometown of Tbilisi after his father Vassil, a Russian diplomat in Iran, died in a horse riding accident. Trained as a painter, Sevruguin returned to Iran in the early 1870s accompanied by his two brothers, establishing a photography studio first in Tabriz and then Tehran. His studio's ties to Tbilisi, however, persisted through the years; many of the early portraits of Dervishes and women have been simultaneously attributed to Antoin Sevruguin and Dimitri Yermakov, the Georgian photographer who is often referred to as Sevruguin's mentor from Tbilisi. Many of Antoin Sevruguin's photographs were published as early as 1885 in travelogues, journals and books indicating that by that time he had a fully established practice in Tehran's Ala al-Dawla street, with ties to the court of Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar. Often unacknowledged as the producer of published images in his own time - the 1902 photographic survey of Persepolis being the most glaring of such authorial misrepresentations - he was nevertheless celebrated and acknowledged for his artistic vision and his keen eye for composition, achieving the Medal of Lion and Sun from Nasir al-Din Shah, the 1897 Medal of Honour in the Brussels International Exposition, and the 1900 Medal of Honour in Paris International Exposition. Reflecting a career that spans nearly half a century, Sevruguin's diverse body of work includes studio portraits of families, women and dervishes, survey photographs of archeological sites, objects, landscapes and architecture, and photographs of royalty, high officials and ceremonies of the Qajar court. The range of his output not only demonstrates his own pictorial concerns and artistic abilities but also the divergent interests of his clients. Despite numerous devastating incidents throughout his career - the loss of more than half of his negatives in a 1908 blast and fire, an unsuccessful attempt at diversifying into cinematography in the 1910s, and the confiscation of the remainder of his negatives in the mid-1920s to name a few - his studio remained operational even after his death in 1933. A number of negatives from the Sevruguin studio can be dated to the years after Antoin's death, indicating that the Sevruguin studio continued to be commercially viable. As one of the most prolific early commercial photographers in Iran, Antoin Sevruguin's artistic legacy has since proved far more enduring.

Local Numbers:

FSA A.04 2.12

General:

Titles and summary notes are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Abbasids  Search this

Ancient Near Eastern Art  Search this

Antiquities  Search this

Architecture  Search this

Art of the Islamic World  Search this

Clothing and dress  Search this

Criminal procedure  Search this

Executions and executioners  Search this

headgear  Search this

Inscriptions  Search this

Landscapes  Search this

Portrait photography  Search this

Pottery  Search this

Relief (Sculpture)  Search this

Religious buildings  Search this

Royalty (Nobility)  Search this

Sassanids  Search this

Shrines  Search this

Textile design  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographic prints

Glass negatives

Gelatin silver prints

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Subseries 2.12

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3663a9188-da2c-4fec-a971-3e726a7f8cdf

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref9047

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Glass negative (b&w, 17.9 cm. x 23.8 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Glass negatives

Place:

Asia

Iran

Ardabīl (Iran)

Date:

1880-1930

Scope and Contents:

"Shaykh Abu'l-Fath Ishaq, known as Safi al-Din Ardabili (b. 1252/3), is the eponymous founder of the Safawiyya order of Sufiism and is hence considered the founder of the Safavid Dynasty. Upon his death in 1334, he was buried in a tomb tower adjoining his khanqah outside the city walls of Ardabil. His burial site became a center of pilgrimage soon after, one richly endowed by Safavid rulers, many of whom were also buried there. The photo depicts the right side of the entrance gate to Jannatara, with the Chilla-khana wall to its right. Chilla-Khana served both as a hostel and a trading centre, built around the shrine in earlier years of 15th century. The image is most probably a copy print." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- Handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "274."

- Handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "1035."

- Myron Bement Smith handwritten caption in English reads, "47.P; Box 36.8: Azerbaijan. Ardebil. Shrine of Shaikh Safi-al Din. Mihrab." [Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P: Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran]

Arrangement:

According to Myron B. Smith handwritten document (Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran), Antoin Sevruguin's 696 glass negatives, at the time of their acquisition, were arranged into 61 boxes without any apparent organization. Today they are housed in archival document boxes, essentially duplicating the original arrangement, and stored on shelves. This glass negative was included into "Box 36."

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, leaving behind only a fraction of his large collection of glass negatives, which is currently in the Archives of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Local Numbers:

FSA A.4 2.12.GN.36.08

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Architecture  Search this

Religious buildings  Search this

Shrines  Search this

Genre/Form:

Glass negatives

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.4 2.12.GN.36.08

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.01: Glass Plate Negatives / Glass Plate Negatives: Sets 1-61

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3185b452d-8c71-4f7d-8b30-8500142c6e17

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref10312

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (photographic print, b&w, 18 cm. x 24 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Gelatin silver prints

Photographic prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Ardabīl (Iran)

Date:

1880s-1930

Scope and Contents:

- On recto of the print, handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "274."

- On recto of the print, scratched handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "1035."

- On verso of the print, handwritten number (penciled) reads, "36.8."

- On verso of the print (lower left corner), original stamp, in French and Persian, reads, "Photographie Sevruguin."

- On verso of the print, Myron Bement Smith caption in English reads, "Persia; Azerbaijan; Ardebil; Mosque - Shrine of Shaikh Ṣafī Al-Din."

Arrangement:

Gelatin silver prints organized by Myron B. Smith into subject categories (People; Architecture - Pre-Islamic; Royalty - Residences - Gulistan Palace (Tehran); Architecture; Landscapes). This print is in the following subject category: Architecture.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

[19(A2)]

FSA A.4 2.12.Sm.45

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Architecture  Search this

Religious buildings  Search this

Shrines  Search this

Genre/Form:

Gelatin silver prints

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.4 2.12.Sm.45

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.02: Sevruguin Smith Prints

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc376fce18d-4c85-4b41-8797-1427c95f2db2

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref9860

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Glass negative (b&w, 17.9 cm. x 23.8 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Glass negatives

Place:

Asia

Iran

Ardabīl (Iran)

Date:

1880-1930

Scope and Contents:

"Built between the beginning of the 16th century and the end of the 18th century, this place of spiritual retreat in the Sufi tradition uses Iranian traditional architectural forms to maximize use of available space to accommodate a variety of functions (including a library, a mosque, a school, mausolea, a cistern, a hospital, kitchens, a bakery, and some offices). It incorporates a route to reach the shrine of the Sheikh divided into seven segments, which mirror the seven stages of Sufi mysticism, separated by eight gates, which represent the eight attitudes of Sufism. The ensemble includes well-preserved and richly ornamented facades and interiors, with a remarkable collection of antique artefacts. It constitutes a rare ensemble of elements of medieval Islamic architecture." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- Handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "187."

- Scratched handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "867."

- Handwritten information on slip of paper (from a 1943-1944 cash book, produced by the Bathni Brothers, Tehran) reads, "20) Tombeau de Sheikh." [Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information]

- Myron Bement Smith handwritten caption in English reads, "47.P; Box 31.7: (P) [black-and-white print on hand]. Azarbaijan. Ardebil. Shrine of Sheikh Ishak Safi al Din. Facade." [Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P: Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran]

Arrangement:

According to Myron B. Smith handwritten document (Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran), Antoin Sevruguin's 696 glass negatives, at the time of their acquisition, were arranged into 61 boxes without any apparent organization. Today they are housed in archival document boxes, essentially duplicating the original arrangement, and stored on shelves. This glass negative was included into "Box 31."

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, leaving behind only a fraction of his large collection of glass negatives, which is currently in the Archives of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Local Numbers:

FSA A.4 2.12.GN.31.07

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Architecture  Search this

Art of the Islamic World  Search this

Inscriptions  Search this

Inscriptions, Arabic  Search this

Religious buildings  Search this

Shrines  Search this

Genre/Form:

Glass negatives

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.4 2.12.GN.31.07

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.01: Glass Plate Negatives / Glass Plate Negatives: Sets 1-61

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3c6fcbc02-e229-40f7-a624-251ee0168a13

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref10257

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (photographic print, b&w, 18 cm. x 24 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Gelatin silver prints

Photographic prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Ardabīl (Iran)

Date:

1880s-1930

Scope and Contents:

- On recto of the print, handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "187."

- On recto of the print, scratched handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "---(?)."

- On verso of the print, handwritten number (penciled) reads, "31.7."

- On verso of the print (lower left corner), original stamp, in French and Persian, reads, "Photographie Sevruguin."

- On verso of the print, Myron Bement Smith caption in English reads, "Persia; Azerbaijan; Ardebil; Mosque - Shrine of Shaikh Ishāk Ṣafī Al-Dīn; Exterior view of tomb chamber, south facade."

Arrangement:

Gelatin silver prints organized by Myron B. Smith into subject categories (People; Architecture - Pre-Islamic; Royalty - Residences - Gulistan Palace (Tehran); Architecture; Landscapes). This print is in the following subject category: Architecture.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

[19(C7)]

FSA A.4 2.12.Sm.70

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Architecture  Search this

Inscriptions  Search this

Inscriptions, Arabic  Search this

Religious buildings  Search this

Shrines  Search this

Genre/Form:

Gelatin silver prints

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.4 2.12.Sm.70

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.02: Sevruguin Smith Prints

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3fc883cd3-1aaf-4169-a2fd-ee9172ad54f7

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref9885

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Islamic Archives  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Collection Creator:

Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (photographic print, b&w, 16.5 cm. x 22.4 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Gelatin silver prints

Photographic prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1880s-1928

Scope and Contents:

Joseph Upton purchased 66 black-and-white gelatin silver photoprints in 1928 from Antoin Sevruguin in Tehran (Iran), and subsequently donated them to the Committee for Islamic Culture, as reported in their official minutes of October 24, 1953.

- On recto of the print, handwritten number (inked, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) reads, "340."

- On verso of the print, handwritten number (penciled) reads, "219."

- On verso of the print, handwritten caption (penciled, probably by Antoin Sevruguin) in French reads, "Filles arméniennes à Ourmiah."

Arrangement:

Gelatin silver prints arranged in sequential number following Joseph Upton's handwritten list of captions, and ultimately organized by Myron B. Smith into subject categories (royalty, people, executions, criminals, punishment, architecture). This print is in the following subject category: People.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

58.G.37

[Myron Bement Smith collection. Freer/Sackler Archives]

[16(E6)]

FSA A.4 2.12.Up.37

General:

Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Clothing and dress  Search this

headgear  Search this

Portrait photography  Search this

Women  Search this

Genre/Form:

Gelatin silver prints

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Identifier:

FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.4 2.12.Up.37

See more items in:

Myron Bement Smith Collection

Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.03: Sevruguin Upton Prints / Upton Prints: 30-39

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3fe5f74df-0024-48fb-9e64-7af1cb3e2241

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a-04-ref9787

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Collection Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Albumen print (b&w, 20 cm. x 12.5 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Studio portraits

Place:

Asia

Iran

Date:

1880s - 1930

Scope and Contents:

"." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- FSg curatorial research specialist remark on Antoin Sevruguin photo condition reads, "Albumen print, faded on the outer boundaries."

- On the mount, below the photographic print, handwritten caption (inked) in English reads, "Water Vendor."

- Handwritten Cyrillic signature in white (inked), probably by Antoin Sevruguin reads: "Cebpróôun."

آبزرشك فروش است

Arrangement:

Page thirty-three of an album of 99 mounted albumen prints with attractive leather covers and embossed green star-and-crescent design.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

FSA A2011.03 A.34a

General:

Title and Summary notes are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Clothing and dress  Search this

Street vendors  Search this

headgear  Search this

Portrait photography  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Studio portraits

Collection Citation:

Stephen Arpee Collection of Sevruguin Photographs. FSA.A2011.03. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

Identifier:

FSA.A2011.03, Item FSA A2011.03 A.34a

See more items in:

Stephen Arpee Collection of Sevruguin Photographs

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc39e1b5378-c860-4497-aa96-fb308d623a54

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a2011-03-ref113

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Kākh-i Gulistān (Tehran, Iran)  Search this

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Collection Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Albumen print (b&w, 20.2 cm. x 13.4 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Tehran (Iran)

Date:

ca.1885

Scope and Contents:

"The structure seen in the image was an addition to the already existing Bagh-I Gulistan (Gulistan garden) the construction of which concluded in 1876. Since then the building was used both as the official reception room of the palace and as a museum of local and international artworks. Takht-i Tavoos was also located inside the main hallway of this building. The building, located on the northwest side of the garden, is currently a museum. The photograph depicts the front shallow pool and the entrance of the structure. The windows are shown covered with painted fabrics on both top and lower floors of the building. In order to achieve the specific framing of both the pool and the entrance gate, the photographer's tripod would have been located on a narrow bridge over the waterway in front of the gate, immediately beyond the lower edge of the image. Photos and paintings of the structure were frequently published in journals and books from 1885 onwards. a close comparison of the images from 1885 to 1890s with the ones published after 1904 shows the addition of the lamp-posts in the shape of standing human figures, not visible in this image." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- FSg curatorial research specialist remark on Antoin Sevruguin photo condition reads, "Albumen print, faded on the outer boundaries."

- On the mount, below the photographic print, handwritten caption (inked) in English reads, "Shah's Garden in City Palace."

Arrangement:

Page seventeen of an album of 99 mounted albumen prints with attractive leather covers and embossed green star-and-crescent design.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

FSA A2011.03 A.17b

General:

Title and Summary notes are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Architecture  Search this

Palaces  Search this

Qajar dynasty, -- Iran, -- 1794-1925  Search this

Royalty (Nobility)  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

Stephen Arpee Collection of Sevruguin Photographs. FSA.A2011.03. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

Identifier:

FSA.A2011.03, Item FSA A2011.03 A.17b

See more items in:

Stephen Arpee Collection of Sevruguin Photographs

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3a2ba611b-7b4a-44a9-81b7-69eb78825677

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a2011-03-ref84

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Collection Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Albumen print (b&w, 24 cm. x 18 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Tehran (Iran)

Date:

1880s - 1930

Scope and Contents:

"." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- FSg curatorial research specialist remark on Antoin Sevruguin photo condition reads, "Albumen print, faded on the outer boundaries."

- On the mount, below the photographic print, handwritten caption (inked) in English reads, "Artillery."

- Handwritten Cyrillic signature in white (inked), probably by Antoin Sevruguin reads: "Cebpróôun."

Arrangement:

Page fourty of an album of 99 mounted albumen prints with attractive leather covers and embossed green star-and-crescent design.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

FSA A2011.03 A.40a

General:

Title and Summary notes are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Military  Search this

Architecture  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

Stephen Arpee Collection of Sevruguin Photographs. FSA.A2011.03. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

Identifier:

FSA.A2011.03, Item FSA A2011.03 A.40a

See more items in:

Stephen Arpee Collection of Sevruguin Photographs

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3e8c2d6b8-24c9-494a-a89f-cf1a5caf425c

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a2011-03-ref121

Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Names:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Collection Creator:

Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933  Search this

Extent:

1 Albumen print (b&w, 22.4 cm. x 15.6 cm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Place:

Asia

Iran

Iṣfahān (Iran)

Date:

1880s - 1930

Scope and Contents:

"The palace of Ayina-Khana was built by Shah Safi (Safavid) in the 17th century to resemble Chihil Sutun, the other royal palace in Isfahan. It was destroyed in 1891 by orders from the Qajar ruler of the city: Zil al-Sultan. Mas'ud Mirza or Zil al-Sultan was Nasir Al-Din Shah's oldest son and the governor of Isfahan for about thirty years.." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]

- FSg curatorial research specialist remark on Antoin Sevruguin photo condition reads, "Albumen print, faded on the outer boundaries."

Arrangement:

Page fourteen of an album of 99 mounted albumen prints with attractive leather covers and embossed green star-and-crescent design.

Biographical / Historical:

Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, although his family studio continued for some time as a commercial enterprise.

Local Numbers:

FSA A2011.03 A.14a

General:

Title and Summary notes are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg research specialist.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Topic:

Architecture  Search this

Palaces  Search this

Genre/Form:

Albumen prints

Photograph albums

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

Stephen Arpee Collection of Sevruguin Photographs. FSA.A2011.03. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

Identifier:

FSA.A2011.03, Item FSA A2011.03 A.14a

See more items in:

Stephen Arpee Collection of Sevruguin Photographs

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc31276ef46-874c-4eec-98e2-e1cb9852a2b7

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-fsa-a2011-03-ref79