MUGHAL AGRA, NORTH INDIA, LATE 19TH CENTURY

Stone inlaid decoration is one of the hallmarks of 17th century Mughal architecture, reaching its peak under the patronage of Emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628-58). The technique was known in Hindi and Urdu as pacchikari, from the Persian parchin kari meaning inlay work. During the later British colonial period, growing interest in Mughal architecture and icons like the Taj Mahal triggered new patronage by British customers in Agra. Thus, the technique was adapted and new compositions based on classical specimens were applied to portable objects circulating in both India and England from the 1840-1940s. Such pieces were intended for domestic use, with a recently suggested corpus in different collections of around 100 examples (see Lola Cindrić, 'The British Appropriation of Mughal Pacchikari (Stone Inlay) in Agra, ca. 1840-1940,' Khamseen: Islamic Art History Online, 2 October 2025). Trays related to our example are the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (02208(IS), see also 02204(IS), 02205(IS), 02206(IS), 1098-1874, 1087-1874). Another is in the Albert Hall Museum, London, which was used as a design reference for the walls in the garden. A pacchikari marble chess board was sold in these Rooms, 28 Oct 2021, lot 49.