Nanjing Museum: Art Exhibition of the Mughal Dynasty of India
The exhibition, titled "Treasures of the World," focuses on three emperors of the Mughal Empire's golden age, showcasing court art treasures from the 16th to 19th centuries. All exhibits come from the Sabah Collection at the Kuwait Islamic Treasury, encompassing 136 pieces/sets of court artifacts including jewelry, jade, glassware, weapons, paintings, and textiles. Blending Islamic, Indian, and European realist styles, the collection is luxurious, magnificent, and dazzling.
A Collection of the Wealthy
The Sabah is the name of the Kuwaiti royal family, which ruled Kuwait for a long period. The Sabah family is renowned for its collecting, and their treasures are housed in the Kuwait Islamic Treasury, having toured several locations in China.
The exhibition ticket is 100 yuan, a bit pricey, but absolutely worth it. The entire exhibition is resplendent in gold; gold forms the walls, jade the beds, crystal the cups, enamelware the walls, and large diamonds and colored gemstones: emeralds, rubies, and sapphires dazzle the eye. (P2)
P3 This 12-kilogram commemorative gold coin is the world's largest and heaviest known gold coin, a gold ingot larger than a washbasin—incredibly extravagant!
Two highlights: The "Floral" section (Jewelry) (P4-9) Utilizing the ancient Kundan technique to set various gemstones.
Kundan is a unique, thousand-year-old Indian jewelry-making technique using pure gold foil. "Kundan" originally means high-purity soft gold foil. High-purity gold is forged into narrow foil sheets, which are then cut, shaped, and polished to create any desired form. Kundan can be applied to any hard surface without the need for metal welding or prong settings. Craftsmen can set gemstones with varying density according to the design. It is specifically suited for flat rough stones, table-cut diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, and is often used in conjunction with enamel on the reverse side.
The "Golden Spears" section (Weapons, Armor, and Shields) (pp. 10-17) features daggers and swords crafted from Wootz steel, a specialty of India, and shields and hooks made of gold and silver, inlaid with gold and gemstones, displaying unparalleled luxury.
The Hyderabad region of India is renowned worldwide for its exceptionally high-quality Wootz steel. Since the 6th century BC, Indian Wootz steel has been exported to Central Asia, West Asia, Egypt, and even Europe via ancient trade routes. "Jawhar" patterns, natural designs formed by the internal crystalline structure of the steel on swords and knives made from Wootz steel, represent the essence of Indian metallurgy and weaponry.
P. 18 Hindustan jade artifacts, characterized by their thinness, translucency, and inlay of gold and gemstones, were greatly admired by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He amassed a large collection and ordered the court to replicate them. Qianlong named this type of Mughal-style jade artifact "Hindustan jade."
Pages 19-20: Exquisite crystal and glass artifacts
Also on display are miniature paintings, textiles, and carpets. Visit the exhibition hall to see more of the collection.
Pictures cannot capture even a fraction of the brilliance and dynamic light. Only by visiting in person can you truly experience the shimmer of gold, the sparkle of diamonds, the luster of jade, the clarity of crystal, and the beauty of gemstones.
Tips: Purchase tickets through the Nanjing Museum's mini-program for discounted parent-child and family tickets. If you haven't made a reservation in advance, or haven't been able to book a reservation at the Nanjing Museum, purchasing tickets for this exhibition will grant you direct access to the museum.