A reading guide from Life in the Sikh Kingdoms ·
The golden throne of Lahore
Hafez Muhammad Multani made Ranjit Singh’s throne in Lahore in the early nineteenth century. Gold sheets cover a wooden frame; its octagonal form, rounded back and eight feet make it distinctive. The V&A records its removal from the Lahore treasury following annexation in 1849 and its later transfer to the museum.
Read the object’s journey alongside its craftsmanship. A museum location tells us where an object is held; it does not, by itself, explain how it arrived there.[1]
Coins as statements of sovereignty
Sikh coinage invoked the Gurus and used inscriptions to express authority. Nanakshahi coins circulated under Ranjit Singh, while the Lahore mint issued gold mohurs from 1828. Coin legends, mint marks and dates provide evidence that a modern decorative illustration cannot replace.[2]
A sword associated with Ranjit Singh
The Wallace Collection’s sword OA1404 combines patterned wootz steel with a walrus-ivory hilt and rich gold fittings. An 1865 exhibition catalogue linked it to Ranjit Singh; the museum identifies Awadh as its likely place of manufacture. “Associated with” is a useful distinction: an attribution has a documentary history that deserves examination.[3]
Your cards are a doorway into the history
The experience’s collectible cards use modern artwork and evocative titles. Their descriptions link to historical context, while redemption records your own progress. They are digital keepsakes, not certificates of authenticity or ownership of a museum object.
After opening a pack, flip the card and follow its source. Compare its illustration with the documented object: what matches, what has been reimagined, and what cannot be verified? You can enjoy the artwork and still read its claims carefully.
Sources & further reading
These museum and scholarly resources support this guide. They are independent sources, not endorsements of the experience. Follow them for object records, fuller accounts and further references.