It's time for me to decide what I am going to make for this year's Delhi Durbar. I have April and End of September as release dates and, as I'm painting all the time
, I have my weekends dedicated to research and sculpt.Here is one of the options I'm considering for elephant option and complementary sets
Sehr & Mukalla (among many other names as Shirh and Mukulla - Shehr and Makalla - Shehr and Mokalla - Sher and Mukallah, and there's even more)
This is an interesting elephant. It was one of the foreign elephants included in the Main Procession. Of Arab origin, they were different from the rest.
The mahout and the sultan are wearing Arab style turbans.
The embroidery is exquisite
The elephant was a bit smaller than Patiala's, at his side. I think it would be a lovely elephant addition to the Delhi Durbar line. But it's not a final decision yet.
The other reason why I like this option is because of the sets that could complement the elephant.
These are the sets that I already made belonging to the state of Sehr & Mokalla
Set 211
Set 212
Set 396
And these are the sets I would make to complete the group
Three wonderful options here: the four camel riders with the cool walking escorts, the two men carrying large flags, and the lovely spear bearers, in front of the camels with the spears decorated and covered.
From this angle you can see the flagbearers (set 396) far, passing in front of the daïs (center of the photo, far away). Then the Camel Riders and the large Flag Carriers, followed by the infantry and the band.
Another lovely group, behind the infantry, with the cavalry at the back
This is what the press said about them
Pioneer Mail 16/01 / The Coronation Durbar:
Sher and Makullah sent Arab and African irregulars, very picturesque figures indeed in their crude colours and head-dresses but little known in Upper India.
A Motley Army:
Nor have readers learned, perchance, of the followers of that Arabian potentate, the Sultan of Shehr and Makalla, tattered cavalry and infantry in scarlet with yellow facings and the hooded headgear of the desert, carrying old muskets, rusty shields, and quaint tomtoms.
1) 46 Arab irregulars
Madras Times 08/01:
The Sultan of Sher and Mokalla sent Arab African Irregulars, who danced past the Viceroy to music to their own instruments.
2) 29 Africans and musicians
Civil & Military Gazette 13/01:
They were black as ink and wore uniforms of dull red and yellow, and they carried long damascus guns and silver powder horns. In front was a green and red silk flag. They danced in time as they went and the musicians blew furiously on tin whistles and wore thick English boots.
3) 28 Spearmen and flag-bearers
Civil & Military Gazette 13/01:
The spear tips were covered in green velvet.
4) 64 Footmen with Arab musicians
Civil & Military Gazette 13/01:
They chanted on kettledrums and brandished knives, dancing.
5) 12 Mounted irregulars
Pioneer Mail 16/01 / The Coronation Durbar:
Sher and Makullah sent Arab and African irregulars, very picturesque figures indeed in their crude colours and head-dresses but little known in Upper India.
Ana