National Museum, New Delhi

Jatan
Collection
Collection Beyond Galleries
Curatorial Corner
- Curator’s corner
- Conservator’s corner

Decorative Arts

Decorative Collection

Every culture has its distinct features, which is clearly reflected in its art, ranging from tiles and wood carvings, ceramic or metal utensils to textiles and jewellery. These functional objects are created manually, and help us in understanding the social, religious, commercial and technological development of the society. Decorative Art Gallery at The National Museum, Delhi provides a glimpse of the extravagant lifestyle of the rulers and kingdoms from the bygone era of Indian History.

Decorative Collection

Plaque 60.1610/22 Jade, Stone, Metal 19th Century 4.6 x 4 cm. An arch shaped plaque with floral design on one side and inlayed with stones and golden wire. Damaged at places.

Decorative Collection

Box 48.28 Jade, Gold Northern India 18th century Lt. 11.5; Wd. 6; Ht. 3.4 cm. Light green jade octagonal box with a detachable lid. Lid of a box is bejewelled with precious stones and gold wire arranged in a floral decoration form. The box's side walls are made of small plaques arranged in an octagonal shape. The outer side of the wall panel is decorated with Mughal botch, which are surmounted by gold wire frame. The plain inner portion has three compartments two smaller one on either side whist the centre division is slightly bigger.

Decorative Collection

Small bird 60.1618/5 Carnelian, Metal Northern/Western India 19th Century 5 x 3 cm. A small bird having metal coating (on its back) with small metallic round balls fixed within provided loops. A small chain is also attached to it. Damaged at places.

Decorative Collection

Muhnal 61.1489 Glass, Stone India 19th Century 6.2 cm. A huqqa muhnal inlaid with golden wires and stones. Some sockets are without stone. Cracked and damaged at places.

Decorative Collection

Venugopal, Ganesha and a saint 62.103 Wood South India 19th century 40.5 x 42 x 8.5 cm. The Venugopal stands on lotus pedestal, playing flute, is in the centre and a cow stands nearby. The Ganesha is seated on a mouse and a standing figure of a saint are on either side of Krishna. All three images are fixed on a single base. Damaged at places.

Decorative Collection

Surahi 62.1757 Ceramic Jaipur, Rajasthan Late 19th century Ht. 34 (with lid); Wd. 15 cm. A blue and white ware jar with lid having a handle. Outer drawing showing an elephant killing lion and an equestrian figure.

Decorative Collection

Dasavatara shrine 72.251/(a) Ivory, wood South India Late 18th century CE Lt. 22; Wd. 17.8; Ht. 15 cms A magnificent example of ivory carving and painting pursuing typical South Indian idiom, this tiny shrine, full of luster and most rare, both as the art material and the quality of art, installs Lord Vishnu's ten incarnations, each on a circular double lotus seat. The sandal wood base of the shrine is mounted with an ivory sheet and in the background is a perforated ivory screen divided into three parts using European style pillars.

Decorative Collection

Gyan chaupar 85.312 Cloth Rajasthan, India 19th Century A Gyan chaupar of cloth painted with floral border, small squares all over the field and two male figures one either side are on the top. The entire field depicts snake and ladder with inscription in Devnagiri.

Decorative Collection

Tusk depicting Buddha's life scenes 85.508/1 Ivory, Wood Early 20th century Ht. 134 cm. Magnificent artwork illustrates the complete life story of Lord Buddha in forty-three small roundels. It starts from bottom to top; the scenes are carved in roundels with floral creeper depicted around the roundels. Tip of the tusk illustrates Lord Buddha in three different mudras (hand gestures) representing important scenes of Buddha's life. Most of the scenes depicted here are represented in other art forms; however some of them have not been depicted earlier. Although it's an early twentieth century work, even then the artist has thoroughly followed the literary text.

Decorative Collection

Elephant with riders 87.503/1 Metal Western India 20th Century An elephant ridden by elegantly dressed royal figure holding a flower in one hand. There is a male attendant sitting behind the royal figure who is holding a fly-whisk in his one hand. The elephant is richly ornamented. Damaged at places.

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Art and Research

Decorative Arts

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection

Decorative Collection