Abstract
S̲h̲īs̲h̲ Mah͎al, the magnificent and monumental creation of Mughals, still stands like a jewel after hundreds of years. This building characteristically excels in its decoration and is best known for its intricate detailing. The evolution and transformation of decorative arts reached its zenith during the reign of S̲h̲āh Jahan (1628 - 1658), which is known as the era of delicacy and pure light in white. The aim of this paper is to study the decorative arts that excelled during this golden era. In this regard, S̲h̲īs̲h̲ Maḥal, situated at the Lahore Fort, is taken as a case study. Comprehensive documentation of these decorative arts including their design, material and technology developed the baseline inventory for their interpretation and appreciation. The study further explored the transformations and transitions during their refinement in addition to their description in the historical textual data.
Keywords: decorative techniques, Pietra-dura, S̲h̲āh Jahan, Mumtaz