Qutub shahi architecture : splendour in stucco

 Qutub shahi architecture : splendour in stucco

  The word stucco means  a 'fine plaster used for coating wall surfaces or moulding into architectural decorations', technically. The human imagination and  creativity knows no limits and this  is evident in the beautiful depictions and artwork on the Qutub Shahi monuments. The Indo-Islamic motifs with foliate borders and mythical animal and bird motifs are stunning in composition. They are found at the Fort's darwazas, mosques, the Qutub Shahi tombs  and on the Charminar. Along with the arches,domes and minarets the overall effect mesmerises the viewer who is lucky enough to see them. The intricate carvings leaves one simply spellbound.

  Depicted below is the first view while entering the Fort. The Bala Hissar darwaza. One finds lions, peacocks and mythical animals. The arch borders above the lintel is also exquisitely decorated. An open lotus pattern can be seen below the mihrab shaped niche which is flanked by the ornately carved peacocks. The roundel next to the  heraldic lion above the arch reminds one of the Persian seamless motifs.  Stucco designs are seen in most Qutub Shahi monuments. They seem to be a highlight and add splendour and richness. Floral patterns and foliate band designs are seen. Symmetry is an important aspect of the overall architecture.

 


Stucco decoration,Bala Hissar Darwaza, Golconda Fort.

By Bhaskaranaidu - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21856204

Stucco decoration, flroal arabesque, heraldic lion at Bala Hissar Darwaza, Golconda Fort.

By Bernard Gagnon (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sultan Ibrahim's mosque, Golconda Fort.

By h v shiv shankar - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28741292

    The stucco work on Sultan Ibrahim's mosque depicts an alam (standard) pattern over the  decorated doorway and  circular seamless Persian motifs above the arch, which has foliate and vegetal design.

Stucco motifs, Sultan Ibrahim's mosque, Golconda Fort.

By Ashis Jain - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21641116

Stucco work, Taramati mosque,Golconda Fort

By Karthik Uppaladhadiam - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21624821

Stucco decoration, Charminar, Hyderabad.

By shash17 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28026637

Stucco decoration, Charminar, Hyderabad.

By Varshabhargavi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28357121

Stucco decoration, Charminar, Hyderabad.

By Navneel neeraj - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51368363



Inside Charminar,Hyderabad.


By Shijiltv (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons



Exterior,Qutub Shahi tomb, Hyderabad.

By Karthik Uppaladhadiam - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21165075





Exterior,Qutub Shahi tomb, Hyderabad.

By Ramesh.mdd - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27985357





Decoration, Qutub Shahi tomb, Hyderabad.

By Vikas jangra2002 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21019745



Exterior,Qutub Shahi tomb, Hyderabad.

By Karthik Uppaladhadiam - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21165086


Exterior, Hayat Bakshi Begum Mosque,Ibrahimbagh,Hyderabad.


By Bhaskaranaidu - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21856645



Stucco decoration, Hayat Bakhshi Begum Mosque,Qutub Shahi Tomb complex, Hyderabad,

By Sthitaprajna - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21078746

References :

1. The heritage of the Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Hyderabad/Nayeem,M.A,Hyderabad : Hyderabad Publishers,2006.
2. Art and architecture of Qutub Shahi times/Meena Kumari, V./Delhi : B. R Publishing Corporation,2014.

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Soma Ghosh



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