Object
of the month - Diorama of Bombay Castle, wood, plaster of Paris, oil
paint, metal, thread, paper, early 20th century, Mumbai.
The diorama depicts the Bombay Castle - one of the oldest defense structures and among the first European buildings in Mumbai - as seen from the natural, secluded harbour on the eastern side of the island of Mumbai. In the foreground, ships and boats of varied type including an anchored ship known as East Indiaman.
The Bombay Castle was the East India Company’s first Government House in Mumbai (Bombay) from the late 1660’s AD. The English settlement in Bombay developed around the Castle. A fortification wall was built around the settlement, which was completed and guarded by 1715 AD.
According to early records, the site of the Bombay Castle belonged to the famous Portuguese botanist, antiquarian and physician, Garcia da Orta.In 1534 Vasai (Bassein) was signed over to the Portuguese by the Sultan of Gujarat. The king of Portugal granted da Orta the island of ‘Mombaim’ c.1563.
His double storeyed Manor House was located on this site just behind the present Town Hall. When Princess Catherize Braganza of Portugal married King Charles II of England, Mumbai was transferred to the British Empire as part of her dowry and the Manor House came under British control.
This diorama was recently restored by the INTACH Conservation Lab at the Museum.
The diorama depicts the Bombay Castle - one of the oldest defense structures and among the first European buildings in Mumbai - as seen from the natural, secluded harbour on the eastern side of the island of Mumbai. In the foreground, ships and boats of varied type including an anchored ship known as East Indiaman.
The Bombay Castle was the East India Company’s first Government House in Mumbai (Bombay) from the late 1660’s AD. The English settlement in Bombay developed around the Castle. A fortification wall was built around the settlement, which was completed and guarded by 1715 AD.
According to early records, the site of the Bombay Castle belonged to the famous Portuguese botanist, antiquarian and physician, Garcia da Orta.In 1534 Vasai (Bassein) was signed over to the Portuguese by the Sultan of Gujarat. The king of Portugal granted da Orta the island of ‘Mombaim’ c.1563.
His double storeyed Manor House was located on this site just behind the present Town Hall. When Princess Catherize Braganza of Portugal married King Charles II of England, Mumbai was transferred to the British Empire as part of her dowry and the Manor House came under British control.
This diorama was recently restored by the INTACH Conservation Lab at the Museum.
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