Mughal Empire Miniature Painting

The Ambabari and the Swari, a Royal Procession in Miniature

The subject here is the court on the move. The Ambabari is the ceremonial carriage mounted on an elephant's back, the seat a king rode in when he appeared in public, and the Swari is the procession that moved with him, courtiers walking alongside, guards in formation and animals in step.

Two scenes are available, one centred on the royal elephant with the king in the Ambabari, the other on the wider procession in motion. Both carry gold accents that catch against the silk.

Where the detail sits

Look at the elephant. The patterning painted along its trunk and the cloth draped over its back are picked out separately from the figures riding above, and at this scale that work is done with the brush held almost still.

Specifications

• Material: 100% pure natural silk
• Technique: Hand-painted miniature
• Dimensions: 18cm height x 14cm length
• Scenes: Royal elephant with Ambabari, or Swari procession
• Format: Unframed
• Care: Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture

Hanging them together

Being small and matched in size, the two scenes work as a pair on a wall, the elephant and the procession side by side, more than either does alone.