HH Maharaja Sir Jiwajirao Scindia Museum, India
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Permanent collections:
Furniture: The Museum has a large collection of diverse furniture; namely, French, English, Malabar, Oriental and crystal. These were also made in India in the past patronized by the Scindias. The Scindias were fond of travelling, and during their visits to Western countries they collected a variety of furniture and artifacts for their personal use and for the Jai Vilas palace, some of which can be seen in the museum. Carriage: There is a saying that ‘royalty is well defined through carriages’. The size, design and material used in making of the carriages were largely dependent on their usage and purpose. Silver buggy, silver chariot, royal palanquins, open palanquins, gifted carriages, hunting haudahs and modern vehicles are some of the main collections that are displayed in the museum. Paintings: Raja Man Singh Tomar was a great patron of art, therefore during his reign a school of miniature paintings had flourished in Gwalior. In the miniature segment, the museum has artifacts of the aforesaid school and also Maratha style paintings made in Gwalior. In Western art, valuable oil paintings, tondos and 3-D paintings were also collected by the royal family from time to time. Prints: Lithographs of Napoleon and Tipu Sultan are some of the rarest collections of the Scindias that are displayed in the museum. In addition, valuable patent-coloured prints of Western art works, collected by the royal family, make their collection rich. Some of these are displayed in the museum. Sculptures: Sculptures from the 2nd Century BCE to the 20th Century CE are kept in the museum. Sandstone sculptures were acquired from the Gwalior Fort which belonged to the Tomars. Apart from this, marble sculptures from the West and patent replicas of the masterpieces collected by the royal family make the collection multifaceted. Decorative art: The museum has a vast collection of decorative arts from the 19th to 21st Century. It includes ivory, metal, glass, crystal, ceramic, wood and stone. Silver and ivory are considered pious, and hence these were used for photo frames. In addition ceramic decorative plates, crystal and silver crockery, make the collection rich and unique. Textile: The chanderi fabric has always been exclusive among the different textiles of India because of its sheer texture and light weight. It was preferred by the Mughals, and in early 20th Century CE the chanderi fabric was patronised by the royal family of Gwalior. Since then it has become the royal fabric of Scindias. In the Museum one can see the authentic chanderi saree of cotton with gold border. Arms and Armour: Museum has a vast collection of arms and armour used by the Scindia in the past and in World War I and II. It includes a variety of swords, spears, daggers, guns, pistols etc.View all Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) members in India
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