Golden throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, c1820-30
Hafiz Muhammad Multani
Wood, resin, gold, velvet and wool
Made by a Muslim goldsmith, Hafiz Muhammad Multani, this magnificent throne is arguably the most iconic symbol of the Sikh ruler and his royal court. Following the annexation of Punjab in 1849, the Court of Directors of the East India Company requested that the governor-general, Lord Dalhousie, ship the throne to London to be deposited in their India Museum. Constructed in the form of a lotus flower, its wooden structure has been covered all over in sheets of embossed gold exquisitely worked with floral motifs and scrolling ornamentation in relief.*
From the exhibition
Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King
(April – October 2024)
Our major exhibition, Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King, explored the life of the great Sikh leader Ranjit Singh (1780–1839).
With an unwavering sense of destiny, Ranjit Singh conquered the Punjab, an area that today encompasses Pakistan, following a period of anarchy caused by decades of Afghan invasions. By the early 19th century, he emerged as the undisputed Maharaja, establishing the influential Sikh Empire.
Ranjit Singh's leadership led to a golden age marked by thriving trade, flourishing arts, and a formidable army. His story was shared through nearly 100 stunning artworks, including jewellery and weaponry from the Sikh Empire drawn from major private and public collections.
The exhibition featured historic objects from his court, courtiers, and family, including items owned by the Maharaja and the most famous of his 30 wives, Maharani Jind Kaur. Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King showcased our remarkable collection of Sikh arms and armour alongside other Sikh artworks for the first time.
[*Wallace Collection]
Taken in the Wallace Collection
Golden throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, c1820-30
Hafiz Muhammad Multani
Wood, resin, gold, velvet and wool
Made by a Muslim goldsmith, Hafiz Muhammad Multani, this magnificent throne is arguably the most iconic symbol of the Sikh ruler and his royal court. Following the annexation of Punjab in 1849, the Court of Directors of the East India Company requested that the governor-general, Lord Dalhousie, ship the throne to London to be deposited in their India Museum. Constructed in the form of a lotus flower, its wooden structure has been covered all over in sheets of embossed gold exquisitely worked with floral motifs and scrolling ornamentation in relief.*
From the exhibition
Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King
(April – October 2024)
Our major exhibition, Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King, explored the life of the great Sikh leader Ranjit Singh (1780–1839).
With an unwavering sense of destiny, Ranjit Singh conquered the Punjab, an area that today encompasses Pakistan, following a period of anarchy caused by decades of Afghan invasions. By the early 19th century, he emerged as the undisputed Maharaja, establishing the influential Sikh Empire.
Ranjit Singh's leadership led to a golden age marked by thriving trade, flourishing arts, and a formidable army. His story was shared through nearly 100 stunning artworks, including jewellery and weaponry from the Sikh Empire drawn from major private and public collections.
The exhibition featured historic objects from his court, courtiers, and family, including items owned by the Maharaja and the most famous of his 30 wives, Maharani Jind Kaur. Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King showcased our remarkable collection of Sikh arms and armour alongside other Sikh artworks for the first time.
[*Wallace Collection]
Taken in the Wallace Collection