MUGHAL GLASS

also spelled Mogul, type of glass made in India during the Mughal period (15561707). Because imported Persian craftsmen were patronized by the Mughal court, Mughal glass of the 17th and 18th centuries shows an obvious indebtedness to Persian influences. Floral arabesques and sprays and, to a lesser extent, geometric motifs were popular with Mughal glassmakers. Bottles, hookah bowls, dishes, and spittoons were made in various fanciful and elegant shapes, the use of coloured glass with painted designs becoming increasingly frequent. In addition to Delhi and the provincial Mughal capitals, Kapadvanj, in Gujarat, was an important centre of production.