Seventeenth-Century Indian Shield

Seventeenth-Century Indian Shield

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Of sturdy construction, and suitable for battle, this is a rare example of a distinctive type of seventeenth-century shield made in Muslim India, possibly the Deccan. In both conception and execution its chiseled and damascened ornamentation compares closely to that of only two other known shields: one in the collection of the Furusiyya Art Foundation (inv. RB-131) and the other formerly in the collection of Prosper Holstein (1843-1926) in Lyons and now probably in the Musée des Beaux-Arts at Châteaudun, France. The state of preservation is noteworthy. Although the gold-damascened ornamentation has become obliterated in some areas, it is very well preserved over the chiseled ornament, in contrast to the two comparable shields, where no such highlights are apparent. The lining on the interior appears to be a variant of that on the shield that was in the Holstein Collection, and may be original.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Seventeenth-Century Indian ShieldSeventeenth-Century Indian ShieldSeventeenth-Century Indian ShieldSeventeenth-Century Indian ShieldSeventeenth-Century Indian Shield

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.