The Mughal Empire was an imperial power in the Indian subcontinent from about 1526 to 1757. At the height of their power in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, they controlled most of the subcontinent - extending from Bengal in the east to Balochistan in the west, Kashmir in the north to the Kaveri basin in the south. The V&A's collection of Mughal court arts includes some of the most important pieces in the world.
Room 41: South Asia
The Nehru Gallery displays jewellery, textiles, furniture, arms and armour, metalwork and paintings of the Mughal and British periods (16th-19th centuries)
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India before the Mughals
Before the Mughal invasion of 1526, the north of the subcontinent was divided up into several independent Hindu and Muslim kingdoms. Many of these were culturally very soph…
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The Age of the Mughals
The Mughals originated in Central Asia, and were descended from the Mongol ruler Jenghiz Khan and Timur (Tamburlaine), the great conqueror of Asia. They were immensely prou…
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Life and Art in the Mughal Court
Most of the objects and paintings on display in the V&A's South Asia gallery are not concerned with the bare facts of history but with the way people lived at the Mughal co…
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The Regional Courts in Mughal India
The exchange of cultural ideas and traditions between the Mughals and local rulers influenced the arts of regional courts.
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Mughals & the Royal City of Lahore
The rulers of Lahore built highly decorative palaces and tombs. Local craftspeople were also renowned for making carpets and shawls.
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Wine cup of Shah Jahan, 1657
An outstanding example of jade craftsmanship and a beautiful illustration of the many cultural inspirations of Mughal art.
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Mughal painting: 16th & 17th century reading list
Recommended reading about 16th & 17th Century Mughal Painting.
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Metalwork of Mughal India reading list
Recommended reading about Metalwork of Mughal India
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A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
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Muslin
This book charts the history of muslin, a cotton textile so fine as to be almost invisible, and the story of its export from India to Europe and Ameri…
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