Mughal India

The Mughal Empire ruled large parts of South Asia from the sixteenth century, bringing Persianate court culture into contact with local artistic traditions. Its rulers and nobility were famous for rich clothing and spectacular jewels.

Turban ornaments, necklaces and armlets made rank visible. Craftspeople set gemstones in gold and added fine enamel work. Even a small object could contain an extraordinary amount of skill.

Henna decorated the skin in another way. It produced colour that faded, unlike a permanent tattoo. Painted portraits show henna-coloured fingers alongside rings, combining temporary decoration with precious jewellery on the same hand.

Beyond the court, many Indian communities had their own tattoo traditions. Those should not be treated as one Mughal custom. Royal portraits, regional clothing and a tattooed Tamil woman bring different sides of South Asia into view: a broad world of adornment rather than only an imperial fashion.