In 1886, the bonds of the
British Empire and the
British Raj were intended to be strengthened by the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. In New Zealand, there was a suggestion that the showcases should be made of native woods. A fernery was included in the New Zealand Court and a display of frozen mutton represented the burgeoning agricultural industries. A pātaka (storehouse), originally carved in the 1850s dominated the large Maori collection assembled by the naturalist
Walter Buller along with the tomb of a
Ngati Pikiao chief. Exhibits shown included a ceremonial sword from the
colony of Lagos, a grasshopper swatter from the
Straits Settlements, and
Albert Bierstadt's painting of the
Bahama Islands After A Norther was displayed in the West Indian gallery, and admired by the Prince of Wales The Indian artware section was split into different areas representing the various
princely states. The Rajputana entrance was a large Jaipur gate constructed of and provided by the then
Maharaja of Jaipur. Several dozen Indian artisans were present at the exhibition, displaying the process of crafting their artisanal works. The men were reputedly from a prison in
Agra, and historians have described their presence as part of an effort by colonial officials in India to demonstrate how they were conducting a long-term project to "reform the
criminal castes".{{cite book ==Legacy==