Firman Case thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Firman Case

18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This leather pouch was a container for an official letter or proclamation (firman) issued by a person of standing within the Mughal empire of the 18th century. It is one of a group of three acquired by the museum in 1923, and would have been lined with fine taffeta. Most of the linings have perished, but small remnants indicate that the taffeta was originally pigment-painted with trellis designs.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Firman Case
  • Fragment
Materials and techniques
Painted, stamped and gilt leather, lined with silk damask
Brief description
Rectangular leather firman case with a fold-over flap top, India, 18th century.
Physical description
Rectangular leather firman case with a fold-over flap top scalloped at the end and lined with yellow silk damask. The ground is stamped with a diamond diaper and gilt. Slightly raised pattern partly gilt and partly in chocolate-colour leather. Horizontal stripes across the body and down the sides with repeated contingent S-scroll leafy stems, and sealed with four petalled rosettes at their points of contact. Damask lining with a diamond trellis enclosing open diamond shapes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 23cm
  • Width: 10.4cm
  • Length: 9.375in
  • Width: 4.125in
Style
Summary
This leather pouch was a container for an official letter or proclamation (firman) issued by a person of standing within the Mughal empire of the 18th century. It is one of a group of three acquired by the museum in 1923, and would have been lined with fine taffeta. Most of the linings have perished, but small remnants indicate that the taffeta was originally pigment-painted with trellis designs.
Associated object
Bibliographic reference
The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982 Number: ISBN 0 906969 26 3 p. 94, cat. no. 247, Veronica Murphy
Collection
Accession number
IM.236:1-1923

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Record createdMarch 26, 2004
Record URL
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