Shield
Description
A copy of Qajar armour with figures.
When the personal belongings of Tipu Sultan found their way to London after his death in 1799, Indian art, especially arms and armour found a new market, in Europe. Personal items belonging to Emperors and Kings were in high demand in the 19th century West. This brought a new opportunity to the Indian craftsmen who were skilled at replicating anything and everything. This shield is a high-quality production and copy of a Qajar (1794-1925, Iran) work.
A war scene is depicted on the shield. There are exhibits of similar make - a helmet with chain of mail neck guard and arm guards - in the CSMVS collection. These were probably made in Lahore, which was not just an important political city but also a distinguished centre producing arms and armour.
Sir Ratan Tata Art Collection
Collection
Arms and Armour
Object Type
Sheild
Material
Steel, Damascened Gold
Schools/Culture/Period
Modern
Technique
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Date
19th century CE
Location
North India
Dimension
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