The other day we went to the Oxford Antique & Food Market that happens every Thursday...Martin's great eye found the old belt buckle that you see above. It was a promotional item made for the visit of Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar in 1873 to England. On its face this is already a great find for £10.00 ($14.50). But this item has a special meaning to me, the Qajar were my relatives, Ahamad Shah Qajar, the last of the Qajar kings to run Iran, was my grandmother's 2nd cousin, which makes Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar my great great great grandfather...
As families or monarchs go, The Qajar were an obnoxious lot who brought Persia down the ladder of greatness in their 131 year reign. So its not always a proud or even safe moment in some circles to admit you are related to them...but it is very cool to hold a 136 years old piece of history in your hands & know that you are related to it...
Off to see the city of Bath...Jelveh
Peace
8 comments:
Very cool!! Always a happy time to find such great pieces and especially one that is connected to you in some way. Bath should be very interesting. I really need to get to England on one of my summer trips to Europe. Are you getting withdrawal yet without your glass? :)) Peace to you also
I know its always fun to find cool things, even more so when they are connected to you somehow...Bath was great...we had a fun time...
How wonderful that Martin's keen eye found that belt buckle for you! I know that you will treasure it!
I am also fortunate in having items such as that. Both my mother's and father's family haved save things over a very long period of time. The one that I like best is a portrait of one of my great (I don't kow how many greats) grandfathers. He came to this country before the revolution. He was a French Naval officer. There was a "starving artist" on board his ship who was painting portraits of passengers to earn money. My relative, Pierre Roget, asked to have his painted. The artist had run out of paper. So he painted the portrait on the head of a barrel. My mother has that along with many other interesting items.
Have a good week, Jelveh!
Ginny
how very cool is that ginny, what is the head of a barrel, like the round lid part?
hope you have a good week too...
Yep, the round lid part!
oh cool...
jelveh, what a wonderful treat to find before you leave. how did martin ever see it? have you thought about what you will do with it? maybe mount it in a shadowbox? lisa d., portland, oregon
I know Lisa, its great, I was thinking a frame or shadow box too, I have a ring my grandma gave me that might work with it as well and maybe a small story...I think it would be cool...
Jelveh
Peace
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