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British Museum- Mughal Miniature Painting -
Manohar (attributed to), Emperor Jahangir weighing his son Khurram in gold,
an album-painting in gouache on paper
A display of the riches of the Mughal emperors
This scene illustrates an event in 1607 described in the Mughal emperor Jahangir's memoirs, the Tuzuk-i Jahangiri ('regulations of Jahangir'). On the first day of both the solar and lunar years, it was customary for the emperor, or one of his sons, to be weighed against 'gold and silver and other metals, [and] all sorts of silks and cloths and various grains'. The emperor's weight in treasure would then be distributed to the poor. This was a tradition started by Jahangir's father Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). The ceremony took place at an auspicious hour, as calculated by astrologers, and holy men held the ropes of the scales, invoking blessings and prayers during the weighing. Here, the young prince Khurram, the future Shāh Jahan (reigned 1628-57), sits in one of the large scales as his father, Emperor Jahangir, gauges his weight against bags of gold. Generals and ministers of the court observe the ceremony. Tiny inscriptions state the identity of each of the main figures. Trays laid out in the foreground show further riches to be weighed, and a treasurer notes the proceedings in a book.
Both the emperor and the prince have haloes of light around their faces, denoting their imperial status. The details of the scene, such as the jewellery, weapons, luxurious carpets, the golden throne and the Chinese porcelains displayed on the pavilion wall, are most likely intended to demonstrate the enormous wealth of the Mughals.
And so it is that our very own Maharajah's Palace having also adopted this ancient tradition of gifting at the start of a blog-year, is abuzz with the frenzy of the necessary preparations.
Display outside a jewellery store in Mandarin Gallery Singapore
In the meantime and until then,
May there be peace, prosperity and happiness
for one and all!
41 comments:
And to you , my dear. Loveloads Rosanna
Dear Sans,
Your Blog IS a gift! Thank you for sharing so much! (Every time you show a Mughal miniature painting.... I want to get out my paintbrushes.... and a magnifying glass! This is an image I have not seen before... and thank you for pointing out the auras of light...!)
Happy New Blog Year to you too!
Sans, I also wish you the same Peace, Prosperity, Health & Happiness. xxx
Oh Susan- You are such a thoroughly nice person! I wish you a great year ahead and here is to many many more wonderful projects!
All the same to you!!!Much love!!:D
Dear Sans,
Thank you for sharing your treasures and goodwill with us! It is my belief that good wishes goes and comes around... So what you wish for us will also come to you.
Lize
una hermosa historia de la generosidad que tendría que existir en todo el universo.
y con todos los deseos verdaderos de paz y prosperidad de todo el planeta podremos conseguir aunque solo sea un poco, si estamos todos de acuerdo.
un abrazo
a beautiful story of generosity that would exist throughout the universe.
and all true desires peace and prosperity around the world can get even just a little if we all agree.
a hug
Espero que este año proximo sea un año lleno de paz, prosperidad y amistad.
Que todo lo bueno que deseo para mi familia, tambien te llegue a ti.
Te mereces lo mejor.
besitos ascension
Beautiful story and beautiful miniature painting, love the details.
I wish you all the best for you and your family...
Ana
PS. in the pillow it is not a bead is a real tiny, tiny metal button with two holes, sew with real thread...they are from Heidi Ott
From all of me to all of you, peace, prosperity and health in the year to come too!
Love, Susanne
Beautiful Sans! May you have a wonderful year ahead, I am looking foreword to more of your stories in the coming year.
Victoria ♥
Same to you and your family!! I can't wait to see what the new year brings! hugs, ara
Thankyou for the good wishes - and may you receive all you desire a thousand times over!
hugs, Glenda
Wonderful pictures, I especially love the jewellery store display. I wish you a wonderful holiday time Sans, and a fantastic year to come.
Sans, Merry Christmas to you and all the good things♥
with love, piikko
Sans dear, we are so far away ... Your advantage is that Christmas comes before us .. ah ah!!
I wish you merry holidays and a Christmas full of love and serenity.
kisses, Caterina
Happy Holidays!!!
Have a terrific Holiday and all the best wishes for a wonderful, memorable New Year. Your web site is always such a pleasure to visit... so creative and informative. Thank you so much for your friendship. Hugs, Jean
Rosanna, muaxxxxxx! :)
Betsy, thank you !
The write up was from the British Museum website, I had provided a link (note the caption under the painting) or http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/m/manohar,_album-painting.aspx
This painting was also used for a blown up poster in the "Treasury of the World" exhibition I blogged about sometime ago.
Beautiful pichas!!
nd thankx fr droppin by:)
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=app_2305272732#!/pages/Art-meets-Fashion/147971171883645
Hello Sans,
I just found your blog and I love your work!
I will be following you from now on ;)
Warmest wishes,
Jollie
Debbie, that Christmas greetings you emailed me is really cool :). Thank you and a happy new year!
Divya, may the next year be one of joy for you!
Ewa, love and kisses :)
Lize, what a nice way to end my year with you back in blogland :)
Contar, I hope for a year of creativity for you and time to do the things you love :)
Le deseo lo mismo para usted, la Ascensión. Deseo para ustedes un año más de maravillosas creaciones y todas las cosas que te gustan;)
Ana, you are amazing! :):) I don't think I can even hold the tiny tiny button not to mention sew it! :)
May your new year be filled with even more amazing feats :)
And from Susan to Susanne, with all m love and best wishes :)
Vitoria , I too look forward to more of your creations :). You have a relentless energy. I can do with a little of that :).
Ara, my dear sweet virtual sis. What a year it will be for you and your new baby :). I hope you will share it with us :)
Glenda, a thousand times and it will still not be as much as the times my kisses fly to you ! hehe
I am enjoying myself chain commenting :):).
Norma, I stood outside the store for a full 1/2 hour in my very unflattering jogging gear taking pictures. I went off only to come back for another 1/2 hour :).
I wish I had taken the one where they displayed a huge ring round a mini pillow. I thought it was a silver sliver of glitter sash!! :)
Warm wishes flying your way!
Piiko,♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥
Caterina, and my new year too :). May you have a popping good year!
Cindy!!! Yay, still holiday! :):)
Jean, Happy New Year :)
Aarti, pleasure's all mine :).
Happy holidays!
Jollie, I am so happy to have met you :). I hope we will a part of each other's new year :)
Hi. I love your blog and your photos are so rich and interesting. This display outside a jewellery store in Singapore caught my eye as I am a jeweller by trade but also as a miniaturist. I enjoy the world of miniature as it gives your creativity wings because cost and scale is all reduced. I would love to make jewelry in miniature for anyone who might be interested. i will also be following this blog as I find your Maharajah's Palace very inspiring. I'm new to the world of blogging, so please bear with me as i begin to appreciate all its intricacies. For more info about me and my jewellery pls see my blog. http://daniel-s-world.blogspot.com/
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