This gallery, in the centre of the Museum, houses and displays the 'Treasures
of Mehrangarh'... the heart of Royal Collection...
The Mahadol
This unusual palanquin came to Marwar as war booty when the twenty-sixth
Rathore Ruler, Maharaja Abhaya Singh, defeated the Mughal Governor of
Gujarat in 1730. Its a stunning harmony of Gujarati and Mughal traditions.
The carved and painted woodwork is distinctly Gujarati, while the dome-shaped
canopy, and that iron latticework decorated with floral motifs, is inspired
from eighteenth-century Mughal architecture. The central structure contains
an ample bed enclosed in rectangular panes of glass divided by scalloped
arches. Some of the glass panes are original... It required twelve men
to carry it and was used only by the Maharaja for special festivals, and
to meet and greet kings. It’s easy to see why the Mahadol is called
“the palace of palanquins”.
Chiq Screens
These
two extremely rare cane screens are known as Chiqs and they date back
to the seventeenth century. The intricate floral motifs appear as if they’re
painted, but the images have been created with colored silk threads delicately…and
perfectly…wrapped around the thin bamboo reeds. Chiqs were an integral
part of Rajput and Mughal architecture. In the fierce heat of summer,
they were soaked in perfumed water and then lowered in the arches. As
hot breezes passed through their splints, the wet cane cooled the air.
Emperor Akbar's Sword
This
exquisite sword belonged to Akbar the Great, the emperor who so skillfully
brought the Rajput clans into the fold of the Mughal Empire. The Mughals
placed tremendous emphasis on beauty, as is apparent in everything they
made or did. But beauty with function… There’s cuneiform script
engraved in a decorative banner and the date; 1560; is inscribed within
the ribbon-like band just above. This blade, created in the imperial workshops
by specialist craftsmen, demonstrates the finest use of watered-steel.
This was a pre-industrial metal-casting technique in which the ore was
panned while it was washed, filtering it from impurities. It’s a
method that gave exceptional strength to weaponry; making for sharper
edges and more durable points…and adding an attractive ripple pattern.
The fierceness of the blade is tempered by the soft curves of the hilt…
Ivory Cosmetic Chest
This
rare and exquisite ivory cosmetic chest is carved with images of Krishna.
Krishna is an incarnation of Vishnu, one of the three principal Gods of
Hinduism, and his playful loving nature has always endeared him to women.
The chest held the little things a woman required to perform the sixteen
sacred rituals of adornment…the Shringar.
These
two extremely rare cane screens are known as Chiqs and they date back
to the seventeenth century. The intricate floral motifs appear as if they’re
painted, but the images have been created with colored silk threads delicately…and
perfectly…wrapped around the thin bamboo reeds. Chiqs were an integral
part of Rajput and Mughal architecture. In the fierce heat of summer,
they were soaked in perfumed water and then lowered in the arches. As
hot breezes passed through their splints, the wet cane cooled the air.
This
exquisite sword belonged to Akbar the Great, the emperor who so skillfully
brought the Rajput clans into the fold of the Mughal Empire. The Mughals
placed tremendous emphasis on beauty, as is apparent in everything they
made or did. But beauty with function… There’s cuneiform script
engraved in a decorative banner and the date; 1560; is inscribed within
the ribbon-like band just above. This blade, created in the imperial workshops
by specialist craftsmen, demonstrates the finest use of watered-steel.
This was a pre-industrial metal-casting technique in which the ore was
panned while it was washed, filtering it from impurities. It’s a
method that gave exceptional strength to weaponry; making for sharper
edges and more durable points…and adding an attractive ripple pattern.
The fierceness of the blade is tempered by the soft curves of the hilt…
This
rare and exquisite ivory cosmetic chest is carved with images of Krishna.
Krishna is an incarnation of Vishnu, one of the three principal Gods of
Hinduism, and his playful loving nature has always endeared him to women.
The chest held the little things a woman required to perform the sixteen
sacred rituals of adornment…the Shringar.