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Salar Jung Museum : a one-man collection
Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III. Masnad of Salar Jung III.
On the southern bank of the Musi river which flows through Hyderabad, used be the Mir Alam Baradari, the Lakkadkot, a summer palace which later came to be known as Salar Jung Baradari. This place was however pulled down and in the place where its gardens used to be, was built the present Salar Jung Museum. Locals say that this place is where a palace called Gulzar Mahal was once there during the Qutub Shahi times. A one man collection, primarily the collections of Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III. He was a prime-minister to the erstwhile Nizams rule of Hyderabad-Deccan. In fact five members of the family have been prime-ministers or dewans at different points of time. His grandfather was Nawab Mir Turab ali Khan, Sir Salar Jung I , a prime-minister who was premier for 30 years under three Nizams and brought many reforms and contributed in the development of the state. The collections used to be housed at Dewan Deodi, or prime-minster's mansion in old city of Hyderabad not far away from the present building from 1951 to July 1968. The first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had inaugurated the museum in the older family mansion on 16th December 1951.
Present building, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad.
Lakkadkot images, Hyderabad; the river Musi can be seen flowing in front.
Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III. Masnad of Salar Jung III.
Salar Jung III with Nizam VII at Ainakhana, Dewan Deodi, Hyderabad.
Salar Jung III had died in 1949 without an heir to his awesome collection. The collection was handed over to an Estate Committee and finally to the Government of India who converted it to a museum at his old residence. The scale of his collection points to the fact that he had quit premiership in 1914 to devote himself fully to his passion for collecting antiques, curios and objects of art and literature. This awesome collection contains objects from India, Europe, Middle East and Far Eastern countries including Myanmar, Nepal and Egypt. The media include stone and bronze sculptures,miniature and modern paintings, ceramics, porcelain, textile, arms and armour, manuscripts, wood, ivory, silver and marble. Some important exhibits in its 40 galleries include the Veiled Rebecca, the Double Statue and a Musical Bracket Clock from England. This museum is in the itinerary of most Hyderabad tourists.
Among its nearly 40 galleries where objects have been carefully curated and presented to the public, mentioned here are the some of the galleries and popular objects.
Founders' Gallery : A dedicated gallery tells the visitor about the illustrious family of the Salar Jungs. There is a family history chart, personal belongings of the Salar Jungs along with excellent portraits, clothes, mementos, phatographs, tableware and other items give us a glimpse into their life and times. The Masnad in the image above is from the gallery.
Bronzes : The bronzes collection is varied which include some folk bronzes. There are Chola bronzes sculpted to perfection seen in the gallery. Some Pallava images also adorn the display. The Nataraja images from the Chola empire are seen, the biggest being 97.5 cm in height. Many bronzes from the Vijayanagara periods are also part of the collection. A Somaskanda bronze image from the 16th century is a highlight among the bronzes. The Jaina bronzes depict the tirthankaras.
Textiles : The museum has an interesting variety of textiles. Patola from Gujarat, shawls from Kashmir with the ornate turanj designs, dupattas and sarees from Banaras. Also exquisite kimkhab work adds some magic. The collection has jamdanis of Lucknow and Dacca muslins. Few kanthas of Bengal and Baluchar textiles add further variedness. There is phulkari embroidery from Punjab and Chamba rumals too. Mughal time curtains, Kutch embroidery, Kalamkari temple hangings and Golconda cloth paintings, pichhwais; cloth paintings with Krishnaleela themes are also part of the collection.
Miniature paintings : This genre of Indian painting is well represented in the museum's collection. The museum owns Jaina Kalpasutra works from Western India; the Gujarat School, some works of the celebrated Mughal School and the unique Deccan paintings of Bijapur and Golconda. Also there are paintings from the Rajasthani schools of Mewar, Marwar, Bundi, Kishangarh,Kota, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Amber, Alwar and Sirohi. There are pleasing Pahari paintings from Basohli and Kangra in the collection.
Jade collection : The museum has an awesome jade repertoire. Jade has been fashioned in India and China and the museum has some exclusive pieces including the Mughal ones. Jade is a semi- precious mineral rock out of which a variety of objects were shaped. There are wine cups, handles of daggers, archers rings, mirror backs,knife handles, boxes,cups, book stands, bowls among a variety of objects with sheen, translucence, lustre and semi precious stones on them.
Ivory artworks : Though ivory is banned now for creating objects, the museum has exquisite ivory carvings of previous eras depicting animal, human, mythological, paper mats, chess pieces hand fans, book covers, paintings on ivory among many others.
Modern paintings : The museum houses modern art collected initially by Salar Jung III to which later additions were made. There are few Raja Ravi Varma paintings, A.R Chugtai and Bengal School paintings represented by M. N Roy and Nandalal Bose. The museum also has K.K Hebbar, P.T. Reddy, Paidi Raju, K.S Kulkarni as well. Abstract artworks are also in the collection by Madhusudan Rao, Surya Prakash, Dilip Dasgupta among others.
Stolen interview, painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Arms and armour : The museum has an amazing collection of arms. Swords. daggers, helmets, armour like chest plates, shields, suits and firearms too. Match-lock, flint-lock and muzzle loading guns, pistols, revolvers and cannons. The blades of many swords are mostly of Persian origin whereas the hilts are mainly Indian. Known as Firangi interestingly. The museum has jambias, tabar,peshkabz, talwars and katar. The museum has sailapah, sirohi and kukri too in its collection. Many spears and lances and weapons like maru, baghnakh,shahspar are also present.
Arms on view.
Different media : The museum has a silver collection, Bidri ware,wood carvings, ceramics, glass, carpets, metal ware among others. Also Nepalese, Tibetan and Burmese collection.
Chinese -Japanese collection : Awesome porcelain from the 12th to 19th century is part of the collection. The celadon ware is highly mentionable in the Chinese collection. The Blue and white jars and plates is mostly from the Wan Li period. Japanese embroidery and porcelain are well represented. Blue and white porcelain, Arita, Imari,Hirado, Seto, Kioto, Kutani and Satsuma are all part of the collection. Also Japanese water colour paintings on silk and artistic lacquer ware, ivories, swords and daggers, netsuke; toggles or buttons are part of the collection.
Western Art : The imposing collection in this category has marble, bronzes, clocks, paintings, furniture, porcelain and glass. There are many replicas and some originals. Turner, Constable,Sir Frederick Leighton, Poynter, Watts and Schmalz all come alive in the Painting gallery. Also animal painters Sir Landseer and T.S Cooper. Italian painter Canaletto, Hayez, Aldine and few others are also depicted. The marble sculptures are mainly copies of Greek mythological figures done by masters. But the Veiled Rebecca is an original masterpiece. The bronzes are also mythological sculptures, historical figures and literary persons. Lacoon and his sons, Mercury resting, Medici Venus are some of the figures. King John signing the Magna Carta is also an important piece. The museum has English Porcelain from the 19th century. there are cups, saucers, plates, vases figurines among others. There is also excellent Wedgewood pottery in the collection. The museum has Dresden porcelain from Germany and Sevres collection from France dateable to the regn of King Louis XV,XVI and Napolean I. Also exquisite Italian porcelain. the museum houses amazing glass pieces of artistic endeavour from Venice, England, france, Bohemia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Turkey. There are decanters, bowls, wine glasses, chandeliers, candelabras and wall brackets. The clocks are from Switzerland, France, England, Germany, Holland and America.
Veiled Rebecca : A beautiful marble statue made by G.B. Benzoni, of the bashful, bridal veiled Rebecca, a Biblical character, bought by Sir Salar Jung I, 1876 during his visit to Europe.
Veiled Rebecca, marble statue,Italy, 19th century.
Double statue : This fine depiction has been carved from 19th century by an unknown French sculptor and represents Mephistopheles and Margeretta, characters from Goethe's Dr. Faust.
Double statue, France,19th century.
Musical clock : a bracket clock from England. it has a mechanical device by which a miniature toy figure come out to strike the gong at each hour and goes back!
The museum thus has the galleries, a souvenir shop, audio tours and guides. In the premises there is a Hyderabadi Pearls shop, a Bidricraft store and Hyderabadi lac bangles too are available. There are food joints which serve interesting cuisine !
References :
Posted by :
Soma Ghosh
Ⓒauthor
Among its nearly 40 galleries where objects have been carefully curated and presented to the public, mentioned here are the some of the galleries and popular objects.
Founders' Gallery : A dedicated gallery tells the visitor about the illustrious family of the Salar Jungs. There is a family history chart, personal belongings of the Salar Jungs along with excellent portraits, clothes, mementos, phatographs, tableware and other items give us a glimpse into their life and times. The Masnad in the image above is from the gallery.
Bronzes : The bronzes collection is varied which include some folk bronzes. There are Chola bronzes sculpted to perfection seen in the gallery. Some Pallava images also adorn the display. The Nataraja images from the Chola empire are seen, the biggest being 97.5 cm in height. Many bronzes from the Vijayanagara periods are also part of the collection. A Somaskanda bronze image from the 16th century is a highlight among the bronzes. The Jaina bronzes depict the tirthankaras.
Textiles : The museum has an interesting variety of textiles. Patola from Gujarat, shawls from Kashmir with the ornate turanj designs, dupattas and sarees from Banaras. Also exquisite kimkhab work adds some magic. The collection has jamdanis of Lucknow and Dacca muslins. Few kanthas of Bengal and Baluchar textiles add further variedness. There is phulkari embroidery from Punjab and Chamba rumals too. Mughal time curtains, Kutch embroidery, Kalamkari temple hangings and Golconda cloth paintings, pichhwais; cloth paintings with Krishnaleela themes are also part of the collection.
Miniature paintings : This genre of Indian painting is well represented in the museum's collection. The museum owns Jaina Kalpasutra works from Western India; the Gujarat School, some works of the celebrated Mughal School and the unique Deccan paintings of Bijapur and Golconda. Also there are paintings from the Rajasthani schools of Mewar, Marwar, Bundi, Kishangarh,Kota, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Amber, Alwar and Sirohi. There are pleasing Pahari paintings from Basohli and Kangra in the collection.
Jade collection : The museum has an awesome jade repertoire. Jade has been fashioned in India and China and the museum has some exclusive pieces including the Mughal ones. Jade is a semi- precious mineral rock out of which a variety of objects were shaped. There are wine cups, handles of daggers, archers rings, mirror backs,knife handles, boxes,cups, book stands, bowls among a variety of objects with sheen, translucence, lustre and semi precious stones on them.
Ivory artworks : Though ivory is banned now for creating objects, the museum has exquisite ivory carvings of previous eras depicting animal, human, mythological, paper mats, chess pieces hand fans, book covers, paintings on ivory among many others.
Ivory elephant with howdah.
Modern paintings : The museum houses modern art collected initially by Salar Jung III to which later additions were made. There are few Raja Ravi Varma paintings, A.R Chugtai and Bengal School paintings represented by M. N Roy and Nandalal Bose. The museum also has K.K Hebbar, P.T. Reddy, Paidi Raju, K.S Kulkarni as well. Abstract artworks are also in the collection by Madhusudan Rao, Surya Prakash, Dilip Dasgupta among others.
Stolen interview, painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Arms and armour : The museum has an amazing collection of arms. Swords. daggers, helmets, armour like chest plates, shields, suits and firearms too. Match-lock, flint-lock and muzzle loading guns, pistols, revolvers and cannons. The blades of many swords are mostly of Persian origin whereas the hilts are mainly Indian. Known as Firangi interestingly. The museum has jambias, tabar,peshkabz, talwars and katar. The museum has sailapah, sirohi and kukri too in its collection. Many spears and lances and weapons like maru, baghnakh,shahspar are also present.
Arms on view.
Different media : The museum has a silver collection, Bidri ware,wood carvings, ceramics, glass, carpets, metal ware among others. Also Nepalese, Tibetan and Burmese collection.
Chinese -Japanese collection : Awesome porcelain from the 12th to 19th century is part of the collection. The celadon ware is highly mentionable in the Chinese collection. The Blue and white jars and plates is mostly from the Wan Li period. Japanese embroidery and porcelain are well represented. Blue and white porcelain, Arita, Imari,Hirado, Seto, Kioto, Kutani and Satsuma are all part of the collection. Also Japanese water colour paintings on silk and artistic lacquer ware, ivories, swords and daggers, netsuke; toggles or buttons are part of the collection.
Western Art : The imposing collection in this category has marble, bronzes, clocks, paintings, furniture, porcelain and glass. There are many replicas and some originals. Turner, Constable,Sir Frederick Leighton, Poynter, Watts and Schmalz all come alive in the Painting gallery. Also animal painters Sir Landseer and T.S Cooper. Italian painter Canaletto, Hayez, Aldine and few others are also depicted. The marble sculptures are mainly copies of Greek mythological figures done by masters. But the Veiled Rebecca is an original masterpiece. The bronzes are also mythological sculptures, historical figures and literary persons. Lacoon and his sons, Mercury resting, Medici Venus are some of the figures. King John signing the Magna Carta is also an important piece. The museum has English Porcelain from the 19th century. there are cups, saucers, plates, vases figurines among others. There is also excellent Wedgewood pottery in the collection. The museum has Dresden porcelain from Germany and Sevres collection from France dateable to the regn of King Louis XV,XVI and Napolean I. Also exquisite Italian porcelain. the museum houses amazing glass pieces of artistic endeavour from Venice, England, france, Bohemia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Turkey. There are decanters, bowls, wine glasses, chandeliers, candelabras and wall brackets. The clocks are from Switzerland, France, England, Germany, Holland and America.
Veiled Rebecca : A beautiful marble statue made by G.B. Benzoni, of the bashful, bridal veiled Rebecca, a Biblical character, bought by Sir Salar Jung I, 1876 during his visit to Europe.
Veiled Rebecca, marble statue,Italy, 19th century.
Double statue : This fine depiction has been carved from 19th century by an unknown French sculptor and represents Mephistopheles and Margeretta, characters from Goethe's Dr. Faust.
Double statue, France,19th century.
Musical clock : a bracket clock from England. it has a mechanical device by which a miniature toy figure come out to strike the gong at each hour and goes back!
English bracket clock.
The museum thus has the galleries, a souvenir shop, audio tours and guides. In the premises there is a Hyderabadi Pearls shop, a Bidricraft store and Hyderabadi lac bangles too are available. There are food joints which serve interesting cuisine !
References :
- Salar Jung Museum Silver Jubilee souvenir, Hyderabad : Salar Jung Museum, 1976.
- Oral history sources, Heritage Buffs group on Whatsapp
- Museum object Images are from Wikimedia Commons and the Lakkadkot image is from the Heritage Buffs group on Whatsapp
Posted by :
Soma Ghosh
Ⓒauthor
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