Antique, 19th-century, excellent quality Indian miniature portrait of Empress Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum), finely hand-painted with a fine brush in gouache on an oval, natural wafer.
The miniature shows the artist's outstanding skills, such as fine facial details, a pattern on an opulent dress, and jewelry details.
The miniature is set under the glass and placed in a solid silver mounting as a brooch.

Mumtaz Mahal (Persian: ارجمند بانو بیگم‎) was the favorite wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, born Arjumand Banu Begum (27 April 1593 – 17 June 1631) was the empress consort of the Mughal Empire from 19 January 1628 to 17 June 1631 as the chief consort of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
The Taj Mahal in Agra, often cited as one of the Wonders of the World, was commissioned by her husband to act as her tomb.
Mumtaz Mahal was born Arjumand Banu Begum in Agra to a family of Persian nobility. She was the daughter of Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan, a wealthy Persian noble who held high office in the Mughal Empire, and the niece of Empress Nur Jahan, the chief wife of Emperor Jahangir and the power behind the emperor. She was married at the age of 19 on 30 April 1612 to Prince Khurram, later known by his regnal name Shah Jahan, who conferred upon her the title "Mumtaz Mahal" (the exalted one of the palaces). Although betrothed to Shah Jahan in 1607, she ultimately became his second wife in 1612. Mumtaz and her husband had fourteen children, including Jahanara Begum (Shah Jahan's favorite daughter) and the Crown prince Dara Shikoh, the heir-apparent, anointed by his father, who temporarily succeeded him until deposed by Mumtaz Mahal's sixth child, Aurangzeb, who ultimately succeeded his father as the sixth Mughal emperor in 1658.
Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631 in Burhanpur, Deccan (present-day Madhya Pradesh), during the birth of her fourteenth child, a daughter named Gauhar Ara Begum.
Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal built as a tomb for her, which is considered to be a monument of undying love.

MEASUREMENTS:
Dimensions of the oval frame: 6.7 cm x 5.4 cm (2.6 inches x 2.1 inches)
WEIGHT:23 grams

CONDITION: This original painting is in very good condition and has no restorations or repairs. The silver frame shows the age and use. The pin is in working order.

Item number:ES1140

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