This beautiful copy of the Khamsah (Five poems) By the 12th century Persian poet Nizami first entered the imperial library in Akbar’s reign and was without doubt one of the most valuable manuscripts in the collection.
Pigeon Keeping: A Popular Mughal Pastime
Keeping and training pigeons has been a universally popular pastime from time immemorial. The mughals were no exception.
Keeping and training pigeons has been a universally popular pastime from time immemorial. The mughals were no exception.
From a Caterpillar to a Butterfly: The Story of a Rolled Thai Painting
When a rolled rectangular panel painting arrived in the studio, it resembled a caterpillar in more ways than one. It was long, brown, spotty and unattractive! One could only glimpse, peering round the edges, the beauty it would become!
When a rolled rectangular panel painting arrived in the studio, it resembled a caterpillar in more ways than one. It was long, brown, spotty and unattractive! One could only glimpse, peering round the edges, the beauty it would become!
Who Were the Mughals’ Ancestors?
An illustrated genealogy of the Timurids, the Mu‘izz Al-ansāb.
An illustrated genealogy of the timurids, the mu‘izz al-ansāb.
From Mongols to Mughals
A few weeks ago we wrote about the timurid ancestry of the mughals while referring briefly to the emperor babur’s maternal ancestor, genghis khan (In fact ‘mughal’ itself is derived from the word mongol).
A few weeks ago we wrote about the timurid ancestry of the mughals while referring briefly to the emperor babur’s maternal ancestor, genghis khan (In fact ‘mughal’ itself is derived from the word mongol).
Fayżī’s MawāRid Al-Kalim, a Literary Tour DE Force
Fayżī set out to prove his literary and linguistic virtuosity by composing an entire book in Arabic without using a single one of those 13 letters of the Arabic alphabet which contain one dot or more.
Fayżī set out to prove his literary and linguistic virtuosity by composing an entire book in Arabic without using a single one of those 13 letters of the Arabic alphabet which contain one dot or more.
Princess Jahanara’s Biography of a Sufi Saint
One of the most exciting discoveries made while researching exhibits to be included in mughal india was an autograph copy of the mughal princess jahanara’s muʼnis al-arvāḥ (‘the confidant of spirits’), a biography of the famous sufi saint muʻin al-din chishti.
One of the most exciting discoveries made while researching exhibits to be included in mughal india was an autograph copy of the mughal princess jahanara’s muʼnis al-arvāḥ (‘the confidant of spirits’), a biography of the famous sufi saint muʻin al-din chishti.
East-West Knowledge Transfer in Mughal India
Christoph clavius’ gnomonices libri octo (Rome, 1581) And the kitāb al-maqāyīs [li-kalāwīyūs], translated by mu‘tamad KHān rustam b. Qubād al-badakhshī (D. 1705)
Christoph clavius’ gnomonices libri octo (Rome, 1581) And the kitāb al-maqāyīs [li-kalāwīyūs], translated by mu‘tamad KHān rustam b. Qubād al-badakhshī (D. 1705)
A 19th Century Album of Imperial Calligraphy
One of the items on exhibit in ‘mughal india’ is an album containing examples of some of the best calligraphers of 19th century delhi.
One of the items on exhibit in ‘mughal india’ is an album containing examples of some of the best calligraphers of 19th century delhi.
A Mughal Princess’s Autobiography
One of the most rewarding aspects of sourcing material to include in the exhibition mughal india was the realisation that the british library collections included so many unique historical texts.
One of the most rewarding aspects of sourcing material to include in the exhibition mughal india was the realisation that the british library collections included so many unique historical texts.
Malay Seals From the Islamic World of Southeast Asia
As small but highly visible and symbolic emblems of their users, Malay seals were designed to portray the image of the self that the seal holder wished to project, but they were also no less strongly shaped by the prevailing cultural, religious, and artistic norms of their time.
As small but highly visible and symbolic emblems of their users, Malay seals were designed to portray the image of the self that the seal holder wished to project, but they were also no less strongly shaped by the prevailing cultural, religious, and artistic norms of their time.
A Hindu Scholar’s Contribution to Persian Literary Studies
Tekchand’s autograph commentary on SAʻdī’s būstān
Tekchand’s autograph commentary on SAʻdī’s būstān
Art of Painting
Akbar established a formal artistic studio, led by Iranian artists brought to the subcontinent by his father Humayun.
Akbar established a formal artistic studio, led by iranian artists brought to the subcontinent by his father humayun.
William Baffin’s 1619 Map of the Mughal Empire
The first british attempt to chart the mughal empire was made by the arctic explorer and surveyor william baffin (1584?-1621), master's mate on the anne royal, the ship on which sir thomas roe, england's first ambassador to mughal india, returned to england in 1619.
The first british attempt to chart the mughal empire was made by the arctic explorer and surveyor william baffin (1584?-1621), master’s mate on the anne royal, the ship on which sir thomas roe, england’s first ambassador to mughal india, returned to england in 1619.
Buddhism at the British Library
This is the seventh of a series of blog posts accompanying the British Library exhibition on Buddhism, 25 Oct 2019 – 23 Feb 2020
This is the seventh of a series of blog posts accompanying the British Library exhibition on Buddhism, 25 Oct 2019 – 23 Feb 2020
Course on Asian Papers and Their Applications in Paper Conservation
This three-day intensive workshop is designed to provide both emerging and established conservation professionals with the theoretical and practical foundation for understanding Asian papers and their applications in paper conservation.
This three-day intensive workshop is designed to provide both emerging and established conservation professionals with the theoretical and practical foundation for understanding Asian papers and their applications in paper conservation.