Wallace Collection

Arts as a Driver of Social Change

Wallace Collection is a national museum, based in Marylebone, London housing unsurpassed masterpieces of painting, sculpture, furniture, arms and armour, and porcelain.

Built over the 18th and 19th centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, it is one of the finest and most celebrated collections in the world.

The Collection was given to the British Nation in 1897 by Lady Wallace, so that it could be kept together and enjoyed by generations of visitors. It was an astonishing bequest and one of the greatest gifts of artworks ever to be transferred into public ownership.

Today the museum cares for the collection through research and conservation and preserve it for future generations.

Its aim is to share the collection with as broad an audience as possible.

The Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust supported the Wallace Collection's exhibition Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King in 2024.

https://www.wallacecollection.org/

Exhibition Overview

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780–1839) was a formidable personality whose extraordinary skill in battle and enduring sense of destiny saw the rise of an empire. From his magnificent durbar – or royal court – situated in the walled city of Lahore, the ‘Lion of the Punjab’ presided over a flourishing artistic culture which was deeply informed by the remarkable diversity of its participants.  Curated by Dr Xavier Bray, Director of the Wallace Collection, and Davinder Toor, Trustee and a leading figure amongst a new generation of Indian and Islamic art collectors and dealers, the exhibition showcased exquisite pieces of arms and armour from the Wallace Collection alongside glittering jewellery and remarkable paintings and textiles from other major public and private collections.

Over the course of its run, Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King welcomed over 50,000 visitors who explored the life of this indomitable figure and the enduring legacy of the Sikh Empire.

  • “The Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust's support generously funded two of the exhibitions most important rooms, the 'Masters of War' and 'Firangis' rooms, which were central to the telling of the Sikh ruler's story. The Trust also supported a second wave of marketing for the exhibition which was instrumental in us reaching such a broad audience for the exhibition. The Trust's financial support coupled with Kamini's passionate and active advocacy were instrumental in this success. Nearly 50% of visitors to the exhibition were first-time visitors to the Wallace Collection. As well as boosting our visitor numbers, the show enabled us to broaden our audience across all ages, in line with our objectives as a national museum, and helped visitors see the Collection from a new perspective.”

    Xavier Bray
    Museum Director - Wallace Collection

  • " ‘To physically see artefacts from the Sikh empire to gaining an insight further and share that insight with my children was just remarkable, words can’t describe how well the presentation of Ranjit Singh was tailored to suit the needs in both English and Punjabi’ ‘The exhibition was brilliant and it was so encouraging to see an exhibition from my own history and heritage."

    Visitor to The Wallace Collection

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