One of the numerous passions of Shah Qajar was photographing. He liked to take pictures from childhood, and when he came to power, he decided to establish in his palace the first official photo studio.

The photos of his concubines were very extraordinary, because by Shiite law was forbidden to take photo of the people’s faces, and especially women’s faces, and only the most powerful man in the country could break this law. The tastes of the Iranian monarch were unusual – all women weren’t thin, with accrete bushy eyebrows and clearly visible mustache.

Here are some unique images of the Shah Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar harem who ruled in Iran from 1848 to 1895.