Museum Studies

Course Supervisor: Dr.Sadeed Arif

Due Date:
Submitted By: Ramza Kiyani
13 JULY 2020
TH

BS-Archaeology 6TH
 The Lahore Museum, Lahore

Introduction:
A Museum is a nonprofitable establishment that provides food for preservation and presentation
of relics of critical worth and teaches the general public about the human past and her condition
through material proof. The items in a museum identifying with antiquated societies and
civilization are sorted out in such a way, that onlookers can imagine the specific picture of the
past. Lahore museum is the oldest museum in Pakistan, first established in 1864, under the name
‘Industrial Art Museum of the Punjab’, and housed in a building known as Tollinton Market, it
moved to its present premises in 1892.There are different names used for Lahore Museum, such
as Jubilee Museum, Central Museum and Punjab Museum. Lahore Museum is located on Mall
road, Anarkali Bazar. In 1894, the collection moved to the present building of Lahore Museum.
It was inaugurated by Prince Victor Albert and was designed by Mr. Lockwood Kipling, who
also became the first curator of the Museum. Its collection represents the cultural history of the
country from earliest known to modern times. Some of the museum’s major collections were
divided between Pakistan and India, at the time of partition. Their ancient pieces enormously
endured in 1947, when significant pieces were moved to India under an understanding of
devolution of social properties. Later on the museum structure was involved by Punjab Open
Library. The current Lahore Museum is situated close to old Food Street in Lahore area, lodging
rich assortment of Buddhist what's more, Islamic art pieces. The Fasting Buddha is one among
its special assortments. The commitments as investigations, unearthings, reviews, and
documentation of the Archeology Office and NCA Department of Punjab The university

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produced significant ancient pieces which are shown in the museum hall speaking to a total
profile of the areas.

Scope And Collection:

 In the beginning, collections of Lahore Museum consisted of archaeological, historical,
industrial, agriculture and scientific objects.
 The objects other than those of archaeological and historical nature mainly consisted of the
samples of wood, grains, oil seeds, clays, colors, salts, ores, cotton etc. But a little before
1947, it was decided to hand over all such objects to their parent department.
 Since then only specimen of arts, crafts, applied arts of objects of historical and
archaeological value are kept in the Museum.

Facilities in the Museum:

Library:
The Museum library is housed to a separate block. Books are not lent but can be consulted
in the reading room of the library.

Cafeteria:
The Museum cafeteria is to the right of the main entrance.

Curios and Handicraft Shop:

A stall for the sale of the curios and handicrafts is to the left of the main entrance.

Toilets:
Toilets for men and women can be reached from the pre-historic and Indus Civilization
gallery.

Photographs:
Photographs in the museum is allowed on payment.

Guide Facilities:
Free conducted tours are available daily at specific hours. Special arrangements can also be
made for groups of visitors and students.

Mosque:
The Museum's mosque is situated at the back of the main building of museum

List Of Galleries in the Lahore Muesum:

 Miniature Painting Gallery

 Gandhara Gallery
 Hindu and Jain Gallery

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  Pre-historic and Proto-historic Gallery
 Islamic Gallery
 Contemporary Paintings Gallery
 General Gallery
 Manuscripts and Calligraphies Gallery
 Jain Temple Gallery
 Arms Gallery
 Ethnological Gallery
 Sadequain Gallery
 Struggle for freedom Gallery
 Stamps and Medals Gallery
 Ethnological Gallery II (Swat)
 Ethnological Gallery III (Fabrics and Clay Models)
 Coins Gallery

Miniature Painting Gallery:

• The vestibule leads to a long gallery divided into two sections.

• The first section of the gallery represents carved wooden doors from the walled city of
Lahore.

• The second section is devoted to miniature painting, from the museum's rich and varied
collection.

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• This gallery displays representative examples to illustrate the development of miniature
painting in the sub-continent.

• The advent of the Persian influence is depicted by the examples of Safavid Paintings,
including a sketch by Reza-i-Abbasi, the court artist of Shah Abbas, the Great of Persia.

• At the end of the gallery, examples of Sikh miniature and early British period displayed.
More miniature paintings are displayed in Gallery 6.

Hindu and Jain Gallery:

 The notable columns and the capitals in red sand stone from Jain Temple at Murti in the
salt Range of Punjab, discovered by Sir Aural Stein, are represented in this gallery.
 The western side of the steps constitute the Epigraphical section, displaying inscriptions
in various scripts.
 Towards the north of the steps in show case No 51, is a wooden model of a temple in
Kapurthala (East Punjab, India).
 Along the western hall, are the examples of Buddhist Tantric art in Bronze, and
miscellaneous objects from Nepal.
 The second part of the Gallery is across the passage leading to Islamic and Indus
Galleries. This portion is flanked by two show cases, displaying Nepalese and Tibetan
banners and other votive paintings.

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Islamic Gallery:

 Near the entrance from ‘Hindu, Buddhist and Jain’ Gallery are placed epigraphical
specimens in Persian, from the time of Tughluq King Feroz Shah and Mughal emperor
Akbar, Jahangir and Aurangzeb.
 Turning right and moving along show cases against the gallery walls examples of Muslim
arts and crafts have been arranged in different show cases.
 The assortment in this gallery additionally incorporates brocaded, weaved and other
conventional textures, Kashmir wraps, footwear, ivory, and mother of pearl shell ancient
rarities, lapidary, Pietra dura, gems, strict articles, plain and painted coated and unglazed
earthenware from Hala (Sindh), Multan (Punjab), and so forth.
 Continuing beyond the doorway, the show cases exhibit Muslim metal work in variety of
techniques like damascene, chasing, engravings, cloisonné, encrustation, filigree, niello etc.

Gandhara Gallery:

 The Gandhara Gallery has already been re-arranged.

 There are panels depicting different scenes of Buddha’s life, followed by other miscellaneous
scenes.
 Individual sculptures of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, lay worshippers, animals, architectural
specimens etc. have been arranged in groups on the other side.
 In few show cases, there is a representative collection of Stucco and terracotta sculptures.

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 The world famous Sikri Stupa, fasting Siddhartha and the Miracle of Sarasvati have been
given due prominence.

Pre-historic and Proto-historic Gallery:

 This gallery is to the right of the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist Gallery and the collection
displayed here takes back to Pre-historic and Proto-historic cultures of Pakistan.

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 These are represented in the finds of paleolithic, microlithic and Neolithic ages from Soan
valley, near Islamabad as well in the discoveries from Rohri, Amri, Jalilpur, Kot Diji,
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
 Paleolithic, microlithic and Neolithic implements of chert are displayed in all their varieties
of functional appearance and manufactural techniques.
 The proto-historic and Chalcolithic objects of 3rd millennium BCE and after, are terracotta
animals like humped bull, male and female figurines, bowls with lids, goblets and breakers,
plain and painted large burial and storage jars and arrow heads are displayed in this gallery.

Contemporary Paintings Gallery:

 Emerging from the general gallery and moving up the miniature painting gallery, there is
contemporary painting gallery is to the right.
 The collection displayed in this gallery represents the work of the earliest masters of Bengal
School like Abanindra Nath and Gogindra Nath Tagore, A.K Halder, S.N Gupta, K.
Mazumdar, the classical artists of Pakistan like Abdur Rehman Chughtai, Allah Bakhsh and
some of the leading modern artists like Zain-ul-Abedin, Amrita Sher Gill, Sanial, Shakir Ali,
Sadequain, Gulji, Ali Imam, Anna Molka Ahmed, Ghulam Rasul and other eminent artists.

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General Gallery:
 Opposite of the western exit of the Islamic Gallery and across the Miniature Art Gallery, is
general gallery.
 Major portion of the gallery is however, devoted to private collections donated to the
museum. It includes miniature paintings, arms, garments, Chinese Porcelain, Arabic, Persian,
Sanskrit, Pushto, and Punjabi manuscripts, royal dresses and documents of Sikh period,
calligraphy, metal ware, and miscellaneous objects including African artefacts.
 On the walls of the gallery are displayed embroidered banners from China and printed
fabrics with Hindu themes and motifs from various places in Pakistan and India.
 At the end of the gallery there is standing carved wooden door from Mughal Emperor Akbar,
16th century

Manuscripts and Calligraphies Gallery:

 It is approached from the contemporary paintings gallery through a magnificent carved

wooden door way.
 It exhibits 57 manuscripts, (22 in Arabic and 30 in Persian, 2 each in Punjabi & Urdu and 1
in three languages), an Album of calligraphy (96 folios), 62 specimens of individual
calligraphies etc.
 The display starts from the right after entering the gallery. There are three main sections
comprising Quranic Manuscripts, Persian Manuscripts and Miscellaneous Manuscripts.
 Manuscripts such as ahadees, history, geography, encyclopedia guides, biography, epics are
mostly poetry.
 Quranic manuscripts are in Kufic Moghrabi, Naskh and Bahar styles of Arabic scripts.
 Most of the other manuscripts have been scribed either in Naskh or Nastalik.
 Almost all manuscripts are illuminated and decorated

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Jain Temple Gallery:

 The southern end of the miniature painting gallery opens into the Jain Temple Gallery, which
is in two parts.
 The first part displaying a marble Jain Shrine gilded and painted in floral and figural motifs
and Jain Tirthankara symbols and topped by a cupola. It is from Gujranwala.
 To the left side, is the second part of the gallery in an adjoining chamber which supports a
profusely carved balcony in teak wood from another Jain Temple from the same city.
 A few statues of Jain Tirthankara are placed on pedestals facing a large painted and gilded
marbles slab used as a pilgrims guide to a Jain Shrine.

Arms Gallery:

 This gallery represents an array of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and early British weapons.
 The collection of this gallery includes, arrows, straight bladed Khandas of Rajput's and
Mahrattas, curved Muslim Swords, with watered black crystalline steel blades, plain and
engraved with hilts damascened, encrusted, inlaid and enameled, shields, mailed coats, breast
plates, arm and leg guards, helmets, spears, knives, daggers, kukris, scimitars, chakras,
sacrificial dahs, elephant goads and torture implements.
 The British period cannons stand outside the museum in addition to filed gun from Gallipoli
and the iron rims of the famous Kim’s Gun now resting on a pedestal in an island in the main
road almost in front of the museum.

Ethnological Gallery I:

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 This gallery displays specimens of costumes and fabrics from different regions of Pakistan.
 Examples of embroideries, patch works and needle work from Cholistan and other regions of
the Punjab are colorful and appealing

Sadequain Gallery:
 The basement of the Ethnological Gallery 1 displays a selection of paintings by Sadequain
donated by the Artist to the Museum on 28-8-1974.
 Some of the works displayed were painted by the artist when he used this gallery as a studio.

Struggle For Freedom Gallery:

 This gallery, situated on the first floor and reached by a flight of steps, near the entrance to
the Arms Gallery, narrated in photographs, newspaper cuttings and explanatory sheets, the
story of the struggle for freedom of the Muslims of India.
 The narrative concludes with a large painting by the late Ustad Allah Bakhsh, of Quaid-I-
Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
 In one show case is displayed the ‘Pakistan Flag’ hoisted in Bagh-I-Jinnah, Lahore by Quaid-
I-Azam on 1st October 1947, and this is the oldest preserved ‘Pakistan Flag’.

Coin Gallery:

 The Museum has a rich collection of nearly 50,000 coins in gold, silver and copper bullion
and other metals ranging from the earliest bent bar and punch marked silver coins of 6th
century BCE to the issues of Pakistan currency after 1947.

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 The collection represented Greek- Bactrian, Indus-Greek, Scythian , Parthian, Kushan,
Roman, Sassanian, Hun, Delhi, Sultanate, Mughal, Durrani, Sikh, British, etc.
 The museum also possess a collection of Silver and bronze medals issued by the British
Government, and after 1947 by the Pakistan Government.
 A representative collection has been displayed in the Pakistan Postage Stamps Gallery, other
can be seen by scholars at request

Postage Stamps, Medals and Coins Gallery:

 Entered from Pakistan Freedom Gallery, this gallery displays ‘Pakistan Postage Stamps and
First Day Covers, from 1947 up to date and also exhibits the Museum's collection of medals
of Pre and post Independence periods.
 Electro typed copies of coins of various periods are also displayed in this gallery.
 The originals, in the Coins rooms on ground floor can be inspected t request.

Ethnological Gallery II (Swat):

 On the way back from the Sadequain, Ethnological and Arms galleries, beyond the Jain
Temple and to its west is Ethnological Gallery II.
 It exhibits examples of folk art from Swat region of the North-West Frontier Province of
Pakistan, a blend of Greek, Buddhist, and Islamic traditions presenting a profile of the social
and cultural life of this ancient and beautiful land.
 The specimens also include garments, jewelry, utensils, arms, furniture, and other household
objects in addition to example of wood carving.

Ethnological Gallery III (Fabrics and Clay Models):

 This gallery exhibits examples of cotton, wool, silk and gold fiber, plain and figured, dyed
and printed, woven and embroidered fabrics.
 The specimens displayed include brocades from Bangladesh, West Bengal and Banaras
(India), lungies and bed covers from Multan, Lahore and Bahawalpur, muslins and gauzes
from Decca, durries and so zanies from Multan, Lahore and Central Asia.
 The show cases along the southern wall displays terracotta statutes coated in brick red slip or
painted in brilliant colors from Lucknow and other places in India, incudes domestic scenes,
religious and other processions, poverty, disease, old age and various other aspects of life.

Conclusion:

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Lahore Museum's superb red-block building mixes the old convention of Mughal
design. It stands apart among the structures worked in Lahore during the British
time frame (1849-1947). This structure is home to the nation's biggest and most
established assortment of authentic, social, and masterful items. Its assortments of
Gandhara design, smaller than expected artistic creations, rare manuscripts and old
coins are known all through the world.One of the most Important ancient piece is
Fastinng Buddha Sculpture.Many people around the country and also international
Tourist visit Lahore Museum and this is full of ancient collect of around the
world.Museum gives us knowledge about the past through material remains and
anyone who visit Lahore Museum will return with a lot of great knowledge about
the different civilizations. The Lahore Museum intends to turn into a world-class
museum that tries to extend the comprehension of Pakistan's social legacy, current
conditions, and future headings. Through its creative displays, instructive projects,
and examination and grant, it endeavors to change the network's relationship with
craftsmanship and history. As a storehouse of significant assortments, it reports,
saves and deciphers its possessions so as to encourage important exchange. Being
the country's most established museum, it tries to lead a relationship of Museums
inside the nation and to make local and worldwide linkages.

References:
Google Arts & Culture. 2020. The Lahore Museum - Lahore Museum - Google
Arts & Culture. [online] Available at: <https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/-
AICRGk0A4n9Kw>
Arinze, E. N. (1999). The Role of the Museum in Society. 1-2.
Ihsan Ali, A. U.-R. (n.d.). Pakistan: Archaeological Museums.
Enikipdia.org. 2020. Lahore Museum. [online] Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahore_Museum>
Lahoremuseum.punjab.gov.pk. 2020. About Us | Lahore Museum. [online]
Available at: <https://lahoremuseum.punjab.gov.pk/about_us>

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