Mughal Art

Treasure troves

Give your home décor a touch of Mughal art, says Shilpa Sachdev

Everything in the Mughal era can be defined in one word – grand! The carpentry, the styling, the motifs that belong to the Mughal era reflect India’s heritage and glorious past. Even in the modern times, the legacy continues as many designers are drawing inspiration from the Mughal architecture and infusing it intelligently into the contemporary home décor. 

Simple pieces of furniture can be completely transformed with an inlay of gemstones or a continuous stretch of carving and jali work to make it look different and unique. Instead of the bulky designs of the past, the contemporary designs can be accentuated with the right touch of the Mughal motifs. For example, a lampshade can be painted with a Mughal design in bright colours, the chair can have star-shaped handles or the rich velvety purple upholstery for the side stool, there are umpteen ways to blend the Mughal motifs within the contemporary home décor. For someone who wants to add richness, the furniture can be given an inlay of design – one can choose from gold, silver to even different colours; add a few gemstones to up the royal quotient.

Every piece of furniture is crafted in the Mughal pop collection launched by designer Mozez Singh has a distinct story behind it. The designer has given a modern and contemporary twist to the tradition and heritage of India. Mozez has taken Mughal motifs like the star, the crescent moon, the jail work and blended them into contemporary furniture pieces. The utilitarian furniture pieces are made in various delightful colours of acrylic and jeweled with fabulous semi precious stones. This evokes a style more like pop art, but at the same time, the gems add a richness and luster. So there is a Noorjehan recliner, a peacock throne and many interesting pieces of furniture all done up in the Mughal motifs and colours, reminiscent of the royal era of the Mughals.

Talking about the beauty of Mughal designs, Mozez says, “The Mughals left us a treasure trove of beauty. All of their architecture, their art, and their motifs are a testament to their beauty – the jali work, inlay, the gemstones, the domes and the carvings, everything is very stunning.”

The beauty of the Mughal designs lie in the intricacy of the work. If one is using marble in the house, that can be further, engraved with carvings and inlay, especially in the flooring. Traditional lamps are making a huge comeback, with their stained glass exteriors. Hang them loose from a height, light up a candle in it and simply let it glow. However, instead of overpowering the house with traditional designs that may not work in the new age, it is a wise choice to select the right piece of accessory and blend it in the contemporary home décor and bring the best of both worlds to the table.