A fine chiselled gold overlaid Indian shield
India, 17th century
52cm diameter
Stock no.: A5346
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Full Description
A fine chiselled gold overlaid Indian shield
This shallow bowl-shaped shield of dark grey watered steel has a wide border filled with floral arabesques in fine gold koftgari (steel overlaid with gold) work. A smaller koftgari circle in the field encircles four bosses and is attached to four lozenge-shaped gold cartouches with floral arabesque designs.
Stylistically, this shield’s vegetal and floral arabesque pattern resonates with a 17th century Rajasthan shield from the National Museum of India (58.45/13). The four bosses on both shields are almost identical, with the same gilded relief designs surrounding each of them. Additionally, the borders on both shields are divided in the same way, with three different types of floral arabesques filling each section.
For other comparative examples, see the 17th century shield from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2015.509); three seventeenth century shields, the Furusiyya Art Foundation Collection (Inv. RB-131, Inv. RB-132 and Inv. R-876).
Reference:
The Arts of the Muslim Knight: The Furusiyya Art Foundation Collection. Milano: New York: Skira, 2008.