Ayah Collection

An Indian woman at a gala seated on a rich carpet with containers of betelnut and perfume
FLO4623936 An Indian woman at a gala seated on a rich carpet with containers of betelnut and perfume, attended by an ayah or servants with punya (fan), pawn and snake hookah pipe

Dace or ayah, Indian nurse, in petticoat and jacket of cotton, and muslin shawl, with European child
FLO4565349 Dace or ayah, Indian nurse, in petticoat and jacket of cotton, and muslin shawl, with European child. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by an unknown artist from " Asiatic

Indian servants clothes: jaliya or fisherman, harkara or messenger, dai or wetnurse with baby
FLO4623949 Indian servants clothes: jaliya or fisherman, harkara or messenger, dai or wetnurse with baby, ayah or nursery maid with child, ladies maid, and methrani or female sweeper

My Domestics; Notes of a Naturalist in the North-Western Provinces of India, 1875. Creator: Charles Horne
My Domestics; Notes of a Naturalist in the North-Western Provinces of India, 1875. [Servants of the author, including a woman who is possibly an ayah, employed to look after children]

Tysoe Saul Hancock, his wife Philadelphia, their daughter Elizabeth
CH35361 Tysoe Saul Hancock, his wife Philadelphia, their daughter Elizabeth and their Indian maid Clarinda, c.1763-5 (oil on canvas) by Reynolds, Joshua (1723-92); 140 x 171 cm; Gemaldegalerie

Colonial children in fancy dress with Indian nannies Date: circa 1900s

British colonial children in India with Indian nanny. Date: circa 1900s

A Group Portrait of a Christening Party with a Lady Seated Full Length, with Her Husband Behind Her
652192 A Group Portrait of a Christening Party with a Lady Seated Full Length, with Her Husband Behind Her, Her Child Attended by an Ayah and Four Godparents, (oil on canvas) by Hickey

Peepul Tree in the Palace of Delhi, 1863 (chromolitho)
STC108691 Peepul Tree in the Palace of Delhi, 1863 (chromolitho) by Simpson, William Crimea (1823-99); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; Scottish, out of copyright

An Indian woman seated on a rich carpet attended by servants
An Indian woman at a gala seated on a rich carpet with containers of betelnut and perfume, attended by an ayah or servants with punya (fan), pawn and snake hookah pipe

The Ayah and her Charge, from "The Gordian Knot"(engraving)
1609651 The Ayah and her Charge, from " The Gordian Knot" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Ayah and her Charge)

The Adventures and Misadventures of a Brahma Bull (engraving)
1055808 The Adventures and Misadventures of a Brahma Bull (engraving) by Marie, Adrien Emmanuel (1848-91) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Brahma Bull)

Some Humorous Indian Types (engraving)
1059985 Some Humorous Indian Types (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Some Humorous Indian Types)

Hindu Ayahs, c1910. Creator: Unknown
Hindu Ayahs, c1910. Ayahs was a term for Indian women who worked as nannies during the colonial period. Posed shot taken in a photographic studio. Postcard

In Memoriam - The Relief of Lucknow, 1858, (1901). Creator: Unknown
In Memoriam - The Relief of Lucknow, 1858, (1901). The siege of Lucknow was one of the major engagements of the uprising against British rule in India which began in 1857

Hindu Ayahs. Creator: Unknown
Hindu Ayahs. Ayahs was a term for Indian women who worked as nannies during the colonial period. Posed shot taken in a photographic studio. Postcard

The Flight from Lucknow, 1858, (c1920). Artist: Abraham Solomon
The Flight from Lucknow, 1858, (c1920). The siege of Lucknow was one of the major engagements of the uprising against British rule in India which began in 1857

Little boy dressed as a clown - and his nurse
A little boy dressed up in a clown fancy dress costume for a party. He appears to be accompanied by his nurse, or ayah - the photograph looks to be taken on the Indian sub-continent. Date: 1920s

Dace or ayah, Indian nurse, with European child.. handcolored copperplate engraving by an unknown artist from Asiatic Costumes, Ackermann, London, 1828

Colonial children and their Indian nurses (ayahs). Date: circa 1890s

Edward Holden Cruttendens Children with their Indian Ayah, 1759-1763 (oil on canvas)
XIR900225 Edward Holden Cruttendens Children with their Indian Ayah, 1759-1763 (oil on canvas) by Reynolds, Joshua (1723-92); 179x168 cm; Museu de Arte, Sao Paulo

Kaut Pootlies, or Puppets, exhibited by Native Jugglers for the Amusement of European Children
XJF108289 Kaut Pootlies, or Puppets, exhibited by Native Jugglers for the Amusement of European Children, plate 18 from The European in India, 1813 (aquatint) (b&w photo) by D Oyly

Indian Nursemaid with perambulator - Pune, India
Indian Nursemaid for a rich European family wheeling a very fine perambulator at Pune, formerly known as Poona (now the eighth largest metropolis in India)

European lady and family attended by an Ayah (Nurse). (Plate 17 of 20) Date: 1813

Ayah - Indian Nursemaid looking after a rather pampered little baby in a very elegant pram. Date: circa 1910s

An Indian Ayah
An ayah (nursemaid) looks after the children of an English family in India

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In the vibrant tapestry of Indian culture, the figure of an "ayah" emerges as a symbol of nurturing and care. Clad in traditional attire like jaliya or fisherman's clothes, harkara or messenger's garb, dai or wetnurse with a baby at her side, ayah or nursery maid cradling a child tenderly, ladies maid attending to her mistress' needs, and methrani sweeping diligently - these domestic workers play indispensable roles in colonial households. As we delve into the pages of "My Domestics; Notes of a Naturalist in the North-Western Provinces of India, " penned by Charles Horne in 1875, we catch glimpses of Tysoe Saul Hancock and his wife Philadelphia along with their daughter Elizabeth. Colonial children adorned in fancy dress find companionship and guidance from their Indian nannies. The canvas captures a group portrait during a christening party where an elegant lady sits gracefully while her husband stands behind her. Their child is attended by an ayah and four godparents. The enchanting chromolitho titled "Peepul Tree in the Palace of Delhi" transports us to regal surroundings where an Indian woman reclines on a lavish carpet surrounded by devoted servants. In another engraving called "The Ayah and her Charge, " taken from "The Gordian Knot, " we witness the deep bond between this caregiver and child. Meanwhile, amidst humorously depicted scenes such as "The Adventures and Misadventures of a Brahma Bull" and "Some Humorous Indian Types, " Hindu Ayahs shine through as pillars of strength. These images evoke nostalgia for times gone by when British colonial children found solace under the watchful eyes of their beloved Indian nanny. Through these snapshots frozen in time, we glimpse into history's embrace – witnessing moments that shaped lives within intricate cultural webs woven across continents.