Snake Charmer

Snake Charmers

Snake Charmers

Given how ubiquitous the trope of snake charmers and India was in popular Western culture in the early 20th century, it is refreshing to find that they are not as common in postcards as one might expect. True, major publishers like Clifton & Co.

Burmese Snake Charmers

Burmese Snake Charmers

While postcards of snake charmers were common in India, one of the more striking such views might be this one from Ahuja's studio in Rangoon, Burma. While one man touches a snake, the other uses not a flute but cymbals to manage the snakes.

Calcutta

Calcutta

[Original] Durga - Great Eastern Hotel - Telegraph Office - Snake Charmers [end]

A card from the earliest known series of Calcutta postcards by the Austrian photographer W.

Snake Charmer

Snake Charmer

Snake charmers are one of the most common early Indian postcard subjects, and this must be one of the earliest and most beautiful such views. Note the clever use of the palm backdrop to create the illusion of depth, and the rich use of red.

Subscribe to Snake Charmer