Indo-Islamic: Peacock Chair

The flared, high-arched back of this tall, statuesque type of chair evokes the canopy-like structure of the 17th-century mayurasana (Peacock Throne) used by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is christened the ‘hourglass chair’ owing to the eponymous shape of its base. Descendants of the peacock chair were made of materials such as wrought iron, gold-toned metal wire, or oak and metal, and were occasionally coated with a brightly coloured paint.

This version of the peacock chair is made out of intricately woven cane, and has a round, cushioned seat. The fantail-like back is elaborately woven in a jaali-like pattern, similar to the latticed architectural element found in Indo-Islamic monuments.