Last Light of Lahore

The full story

The end of the Lahore kingdom did not mean the end of Punjab’s people or culture. It marked a profound change in political power. After annexation in 1849, state property was confiscated by the East India Company and objects from the treasury were dispersed. The Wallace Collection traces how Sikh arms and other works entered later collections.

An empty chair stands at the centre of this imagined room, while evening light reaches in from the city beyond. The contrast matters: the seat is unoccupied, but the world outside continues. The card invites you to think about the difference between the fall of a court and the survival of the memories, skills and communities associated with it.

This scene is a visual meditation, not a record of the palace on a particular evening. Its throne, architecture and papers are creative elements. Follow the source to explore the documented journeys of objects after the kingdom’s annexation.

Place it in the wider story.

The Anglo-Sikh Wars and the loss of sovereignty ↗

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