THE V&As AUTUMN EXHIBITION, "MAHARAJAH: THE SPLENDOR OF INDIA'S ROYAL COURTS', WILL BE THE FIRST TO COMPREHENSIVELY EXPLORE THE WORLD OF THE MAHARAJAHS AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARILY RICH CULTURE. IT WILL BRING TOGETHER OVER 250 MAGNIFICENT OBJECTS, MANY ON LOAN TO THE UK FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM INDIA'S ROYAL COLLECTIONS. THE EXHIBITION WILL INCLUDE THREE THRONES, A SILVER HOWDAH, GEM-ENCRUSTED WEAPONS, COURT PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, A ROLLS ROYCE, INDIAN TURBAN JEWELS AND JEWELERY COMMISSIONED FROM CARTIER AND VAN CLEEF & ARPELS IN THE 20th CENTURY. THE EXHIBITION WILL COVER THE PERIOD FROM THE 18th CENTURY WHEN THE GREAT ERA OF THE MAHARAJAHS BEGAN TO THE END OF THE BRITISH RULE IN 1947. IT WILL SHOW THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE MAHARAJAHS IN A HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT AND LOOK AT HOW THEIR PATRONAGE OF THE ARTS BOTH IN INDIA AND EUROPE RESULTED IN SPLENDID AND BEAUTIFUL COMMISSIONS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ROYAL STATUS AND IDENTITY.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BEGIN WITH A RECREATION OF AN INDIAN ROYAL PROCESSION WITH A LIFE SIZED MODEL ELEPHANT ADORNED WITH ANIMAL JEWELRY, TEXTILES AND TRAPPINGS AND SURMOUNTED WITH A SILVER HOWDAH. THE INITIAL DISPLAYS WILL EXPLORE IDEAS OF KINGSHIP IN INDIA AND THE ROLE OF THE MAHARAJAH AS RELIGIOUS LEADER, MILITARY AND POLITICAL RULER AND ARTISTIC PATRON. SYMBOLS OF KINGSHIP WILL INCLUDE A GADDI (THRONE) FROM UDAIPUR, ELABORATE TURBAN PALANQUIN FROM JODHPUR USED TO CARRY THE MAHARAJAH'S WIFE WILL PROVIDE A RARE GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES OF THE LADIES AT THE ROYAL COURT. THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE GRAND IMPERIAL DURBARS OF THE RAJ THROUGH LARGE SCALE PAINTINGS AND RARE ARCHIVE FILM FOOTAGE. THE SECTION WILL ALSO INCLUDE A STUNNING CARPET OF PEARLS, RUBIES, EMERALDS AND DIAMONDS MADE FOR THE MAHARAJAH OF BARODA AND EXHIBITED AT THE DURBAR OF 1903.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.vam.ac.uk
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