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Young World
Collection in crystal
KAUSALYA SANTHANAM
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For almost a hundred years they remained packed, in the cellars of the Fateh Prakash palace at Udaipur. Commissioned in 1877, the crystal collection was displayed to the public only in 1994.
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An exclusive collection...the Crystal Gallery.
This is glass at its most radiant. The Crystal Gallery at the Fateh Prakash Palace in Udaipur is a scene straight out of the glittering realms of fantasy. The Durbar Hall of the Palace was recently seen on the BBC Mastermind Show as the finals of the quiz competition were held here.
A million twinkling points of light radiate through the corridors as your eye travels though the collection of crystal that is unique in the world. Sofa sets with handrest and frames, a four-poster bed with rich hangings, tables, throne-like chairs and table fountains figure among the bigger items. Goblets and decanters, jugs and pitchers, salt cellars and bowls in green, crimson and white dazzle as you walk past. There are perfume bottles and honey bottles, trays and cups, plates and champagne glasses, cruet sets and pitchers, candle stands and coasters — all made of glass. To suit the Indian lifestyle are the Bajot sets, the low stools to keep one's plate while eating while seated on the ground.
Till the early years of the century, there were no electric fans. Even royals had to be content with the breeze from Punkahs, a contraption made of cloth and wood, which the poor punkah puller would operate all day long. It was in 19th century that these crystal artefacts were made. So you have a magnificent punkah in this collection. Its rod is made of crystal and the cloth is of crimson satin embroided with the face of the Sun god, the emblem of the Mewar rulers. The wealth of the royals and the grand parties they gave is evident from the rows and rows of crystal wine glasses carrying the coat of arms of Mewar.
For a little breeze...the royal crystal punkah
Photography is prohibited here but when I tell Sri Arvind Singh, the scion of the princely House that I want pictures for The Hindu, he agrees instantly. And sends the Administrator of the Fatehprakash Palace, Major Raghubir Singh to take me around. The Major not only explains the items but also offers to take the photographs.
The ruler who commissioned this crystal collection was Maharana Sajjan Singh (1859-1884). He ordered it from the famous manufacturers F. and C. Osler Company, Birmingham, England around 1877. Sajjan Singh was an enlightened ruler who began the newspaper system in Mewar and also set up a huge library. He was environment conscious and planted hundreds of trees.
Unfortunately, he died young, before the Crystal collection arrived in Udaipur. The packed containers remained in the cellars of the enormous Palace for almost 100 years. Arvind Singh's father Bhagwat Singh unpacked them and when the lake Palace in Udaipur was turned into a hotel, some of these items were exhibited there. In 1994 Arvind Singh decided to display them to the public.
The seat of the ruler...the crystal throne
The gallery in which it is now laid out overlooks the magnificent Durbar Hall adorned with the portraits of the former rulers of Mewar. Among them is that of the patriot, Maharana Pratap, who fought bravely against Akbar. The present Crystal Gallery was the place from which the former Queens who were in purdah viewed the official functions and the parties held in the Durbar hall.
The entrance fee to the Crystal Gallery is high but then it is a fragile and exclusive collection that needs to be protected. For many it is a sum well spent to see the rays of light captured in each sparkling, delicate artefact.
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