Vintage Air India Maharajah

Dimensions: 19cm high, 9cm deep, 6cm wide.
Code: TRAVEL 0321

A very special piece, this plaster of paris statue of the Maharajah has been decorated with mirrored glass. It dates back to the 1960s and is in good condition with some minor damage consistent with age.

Air India began flying international routes in the mid 1940’s and as part of the marketing campaign the jovial Maharajah first made his appearance. At the time, India was known as the “Land of the Maharajas and SK (Bobby) Kooka, the Commercial Director, wanted to create a human face for the brand representing India both with charm and with dignity. Kooka and artist Umesh Rao, gave him a distinctive personality, luxuriant moustache, aquiline nose and a quintessentially Indian turban. The Maharaja travelled the world and always had a story to tell for each city he visited — whether it was rescuing a mermaid in Sydney or doing the Can Can with the cabaret dancers at Moulin Rouge.

The Maharajah mascot became the vehicle to take Air India's sales and promotional messages to millions of travellers across the world. The Maharajah was funny, irreverent, up to antics, and always full of India, his proud homeland. He became a friend to every traveller on India’s national airline and went on to become an iconic and collectible brand mascot, particularly after they stopped producing them in the late 70s, early 80s.