An inlaid Shibayama lacquer incense burner, flanked with two dragon handles, symbolising the legend of two dragons fighting for the “pearl of wisdom”. The intricate wonder that now sits inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay (CSMVS) has its origins in the Meiji period (1868-1912). It was acquired by Sir Ratan Tata in the late 18th century during his travels to Japan.

The piece is part of an upcoming exhibition at the museum that commemorates his centenary. Titled An Exotic Encounter: Non-Indian Antiquities from Sir Ratan Tata’s Centenary, this exhibition, which opens on September 7, will put on display 90 non-Indian art objects that he acquired during his travels to China, Japan and Europe. From South Asian bronzes, to European oil paintings and Chinese and Japanese sculptures, ceramics and wood works, the exhibition promises a journey into the mind of a man who was not only a great art connoisseur but also someone who donated his entire collection to the erstwhile Prince of Wales Museum in Bombay, to make them accessible to the masses.