Lahore had been a renowned centre for the production of arms and armour when it served as a northern capital of the Mughal Empire.

As Ranjit Singh’s (1780-1839) capital city from 1799, Lahore needed to provide all the trappings of courtly dress. This of course included arms and armour of the highest quality, which Ranjit Singh often presented to his courtiers, officers and allies. Such diplomatic gifts were readily commissioned to order from the Lahore Treasury or purchased elsewhere and subsequently ornamented there.

However, arms and armour were not just presentation objects. The growth of the Sikh Empire relied on its capability to conquer. Ranjit Singh invested heavily in his artillery, establishing gun factories and employing former Napoleonic officers to train his troops along European lines.

Punjab also enjoyed many centres for the production of arms and armour beyond Lahore and the Wallace Collection houses some of the finest examples produced in the region during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.