Treasures of the Lahore court

When Punjab was annexed in 1849 the toshakhana, the treasury of the Sikh kings, was auctioned or sent to Queen Victoria.

TraditionsIslam & Sufi 2Sikh 14Shared & secular 2

Gurus and Mughals

1469 – 1708

The kalgi of Guru Gobind SinghLate 17th century; lost 1850

The jewelled turban plume of Guru Gobind Singh, kept as a relic by the Lahore court and lost after 1849.

The Kingdom of Lahore

1799 – 1849

The relics of the ProphetKept 1799 – 1849

Hair and sandals said to be the Prophet Muhammad's and a Quran in old Kufic script, kept with honour by a Sikh court.

Swords of the defeatedCollected 1800 – 1839

Swords of Ranjit Singh's rivals, from the Afghan vizier Fateh Khan to the Maratha Holkar, and one said to be the hero Rustam's.

The Koh-i-NoorTaken by Ranjit Singh 1813; surrendered 1849

The 'mountain of light', taken from the deposed Afghan king Shah Shuja in 1813. Ranjit Singh wore it on his arm. Under the Treaty of Lahore of 1849 it was surrendered to Queen Victoria, cut down, and set in the British crown jewels.

The Timur RubyIn Lahore 1813 – 1849

A huge spinel engraved with the names of Mughal emperors, held in the Lahore treasury and sent to Queen Victoria in 1851.

The golden throne of Ranjit Singhc. 1820 – 1830

Made by the goldsmith Hafez Muhammad Multani, an eight-lobed throne on a lotus-petal base. It passed to the East India Company in 1849 and has been in London ever since.

Shawls and tents of the court1820s – 1840s

Kashmir shawls, velvet tunics and pavilions woven with gold thread, the soft wealth of the Lahore court.

The jewelled sword for England1830s

A sword and scabbard set with 225 diamonds, 268 rubies, 381 emeralds and 517 pearls, made as Ranjit Singh's gift to England.

Laili, the Maharaja's horseBrought to Lahore 1830

The horse Ranjit Singh wanted so much that he made war for it, and kept in jewels and gold.

The Order of the Star of the PunjabFounded 1837

The Kingdom of Lahore's own order of honour, given to its generals and to foreign guests.

The jewels of Maharani Jind Kaur1840s

Jewellery of Ranjit Singh's youngest queen, confiscated by the British and partly returned to her in exile; pieces resurfaced at auction in the 21st century.

Colonial Punjab

1849 – 1947

The Lahore auctions of 18501849 – 1850

How the British sold off the treasury of the Kingdom of Lahore after annexing the Punjab.

The emerald girdleEarly 19th century

A gold belt set with nineteen great emeralds from the Lahore treasury, remade for Queen Victoria.

Shah Shuja's throneEarly 19th century

The throne of the exiled Afghan king who gave up the Koh-i-Noor to Ranjit Singh in 1813.

The jewelled canopy of the Harmandir SahibEarly 19th century

A canopy of gold and jewels that Ranjit Singh gave to be held over the Guru Granth Sahib, kept in the treasury of the Golden Temple.

The Princess Bamba Collection19th century

Paintings, ivories and objects of the Sikh court gathered by Princess Bamba Sutherland, Maharaja Duleep Singh's eldest daughter, who settled in Lahore; after her death in 1957 the collection passed to the government of Pakistan.

Elveden Hall1863 onwards

The English country house Maharaja Duleep Singh bought in exile and rebuilt with Indian interiors of carved marble. The last Maharaja of the Punjab is buried in the churchyard at Elveden.