Handwritten number in white ink, probably by Antoin Sevruguin reads, "258". The same number appears in the same location in a print of this image in the Myron Bement Smith Collection of Antoin Sevruguin Photographs, located in the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
"The throne visible in the image is what is commonly referred to as Nadiri Throne. The construction of the throne, however, is firmly attributed to Fath Ali Shah Qajar (1798-1834), as the inscriptions around the base of the throne make explicit. The throne is inlaid with 26,733 gems and its measurements are as followed: 98 centimeters long, 96 centimeters broad, 117 centimeters to the arm-set and 217 centimeters at the back. For ease of movement, the throne was originally built in 12 separate pieces to be assembled and dis-assembled when needed. The pieces are all covered in sheets of gold and inlaid with precious stones, consisting - mostly - of emeralds and rubies." Source: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant.
Publications
A print of this image is in the Myron Bement Smith Collection: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith, 1973-1985.Reference number: SA A.4 2.12.GN.33.08