Prince of Wales Museum of Western India

Prince of Wales Museum of Western India

Prince of Wales Museum of Western India

159-161, M.G.Road
Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra
India 400 023

M: 91-44-2844484 /2844519

F: 91-44-2045430

E: [email protected]; [email protected]

W: www.bombaymuseum.org

The Prince of Wales Museum of Western India is one of the best-known Museums of the Country. This magnificent heritage building, houses collections relating to .
Sculpture:Amongst the important sculptures are the Gupta period terracottas and bricks from Mirpurkhas excavated by Cousens, a large number of Buddhist images from Gandhara and ceiling panels from a dilapidated temple at Aihole. The early examples from Maharashtra are represented by sculptures from Pauni and Pitalkhora.
Indus Valley Culture: A major part of this gallery comprises of the Mohen-jo-Daro antiquities excavated by Sir John Marshall in 1922. It has on display interesting remains of the material culture of that period like the fishing hooks, spindles, arms, ornaments, weights and measures from the various Indus Valley sites. This gallery is designed mainly from the educational point of view.
Miniature Painting: About two hundred miniatures are on display on the first floor.The main gallery offers a bird’s eye view of the development of miniature painting in India whereas the circle displays the miniatures in thematic groups.
Maritime Heritage: The gallery traces the history of the maritime tradition of India. A section on the indigenous techniques of navigation is of particular interest.
Natural History: various specimens with detailed information are on display at the museum.
Decorative Arts: Decorative art objects in jade, wood, ivory, metal and other mediums give a glimpse of the skills of the Indian craftsmen of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Nepal-Tibet
Arms and Armour: The Arms gallery exhibits various arms in their functional aspects as defensive and offensive weapons. It introduces the viewer to the vast and varied typology of Indian weapons. The main attractions of the gallery are Allauddin Khilji’s Khanda and Akbar’s cuirass with shield, dated AD 1593.
Far Eastern Art: A section on the second floor is devoted to the Chinese and the Japanese art.
Oil Paintings: The European oil paintings on show.