Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts

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The word ‘maharaja’ – literally ‘great king’ – conjures up a vision of splendour and magnificence. This lavishly illustrated book examines the real and perceived worlds of the maharaja, from the early eighteenth century to 1947, when the Indian princes ceded their territories into the modern states of India and Pakistan.

Jackson and Jaffer explore the spectacular material culture of India’s rulers, showcasing rich and varied objects that reflect different aspects of royal life. Indian and Western works from a wide range of media, including paintings, photographs, textiles and dress, jewellery, jewelled objects, metalwork and furniture, are considered within the broader historical context , giving readers an understanding of royal status and identity, court culture and patronage, while attractive feature spreads highlight particular maharajas. Essays by leading international scholars explore Indian concepts of kingship, the public aspects of princely life, architecture of the princely court, palace life and recreation, and the important role of the princes as patrons of traditional arts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amin Jaffer

Dr. Amin Jaffer is a Curator in the Asian Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where he specialises in Indian art and culture in the period of European influence. He is the author of Furniture from British India and Ceylon and Luxury Goods from India, and the co-editor of Encounters: the meeting of Asia and Europe, 1500-1800, which accompanied a V&A exhibition of the same title.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anna Jackson

Anna Jackson is Deputy Keeper of the V&A’s Asian Department. She co-curated Encounters: The Meeting of Asia and Europe 1500-1800 with Amin Jaffer and co-edited the accompanying book (V&A 2004). She is also the author of Japanese Textiles (V&A 2000) and Expo: International Expositions 1851-2010 (V&A 2008) and is a contributor to Art Deco (V&A 2003).