Mogul mural with Ghir Falcon

A Ghir falcon (Latin Falco rusticolus) attracted the attention of the Great Mogul Akbar I, who ruled the Mughal Empire from 1556 until his death in 1605. The original was made between 1602 and 1604, i.e. in the last years of Akbar's reign, and was designed with tempera and gold on paper. Actually quite small, it is extremely filigree. That gave us the idea of adapting the motif for our customers and transforming it into a magnificent mural using a high-quality printing process. It is now 2.70 x 2.10 m in size. It can easily be set up in three lanes.

The motif is full of hints. The hunting falcon is apparently a gift from Akbar's eldest son, Prince Salim, who approaches on the left. The still incumbent Grand Vizier rests on a purple cushion, above him a canopy that suggests a starry sky – a symbol of the ruler's all-embracing power. A handsome black antelope, now a pet, crouches at the bottom of the stairs. Behind the Grand Vizier, on the right, stands Prince Khusrau, Salim's eldest son. He seems up to something. His look and demeanor suggest that. In fact, both Salim and his son were in competition with each other to usurp power after Akbar's death. Prince Salim finally succeeded his father under the name Jahangir (Persian "Conqueror of the World").

A ruler takes a rest

The reign of Akbar I over the Indian subcontinent was enormously successful. Through numerous campaigns and political marriages, he enlarged the Mughal empire considerably. Although the ruling families were firmly anchored in the Muslim faith, Akbar showed religious tolerance towards the Hindu population. Special taxes for non-Muslims have been abolished. The standardization of units of measurement, the abolition of child marriages and an improved education system characterized his reforms. However, widespread corruption hampered his modern social and administrative ideas.

The splendor of color and quality of this mural by Hohenberger Wallcoverings is supported by a sustainable, healthy production chain. For our high-quality wallpapers, we use materials that come from well-managed forests and other controlled sources.

Design rights: Wolfsee U.G, Mrs. Clarissa Dreier