Habit of a Merchant of Indostan in 1700

by Thomas Jefferys

This amazing 18th century plate features the 'Habit of a Merchant of Indostan' showing the elaborate dress codes prevalent in the Indian sub-continent during the time of the Mughals. This plate has been engraved by the renowned mapmaker and engraver, Thomas Jefferys who shows how important the merchant is in society through the clothes he wears - including an ample jama (tunic), a neatly tied turban, and a waist sash known as a patka - which all reflect the region's famous cloth production skills.

Different from the usual caricatured images of future periods, this plate published in 1700 presents the merchant in a rather dignified manner, making it clear that the person was much more than a simple trader, but also a key player in the silk and spices trade routes.