Kulah Khud

Culture Northern Indian

Date1600s, with later modifications

Mediumiron, brass, silver and gold

Dimensions14.5 × 19.5 cm (5 11/16 × 7 11/16 in.), 2 lb, 12 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsInterior with "2971-B/JWHA in white paint.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.88

DescriptionIron. Hemispherical, slightly conical, bowl with conical cap for finial having bracket-cut edge; finial is missing. Cap is decorated with diapered pattern of lozenges in gold koft-gari. The cap appears to match the bowl, but looks to have been re-riveted at some point.

Bowl chiselled in arches, the long downward arches with cypress trees in silver koft-gari. Voids are gilt. 3 long conical plume holders terminating in flattened notched arrow-shapes riveted to bowl; traces of gilt. Staple for missing nasal attached with 2 rivets (1 now lost) & retains screw (modern ?) for adjusting nasal.

Iron aventail of very fine riveted rings with dagged edge, 35 cm long. The aventail is finely tailored, with long and short dags alternating around the lower edge, and a widened opening at the upper part of the face. Various types of links attach the aventail to the bowl, some of them of brass. The forward fringe shades the eyes. Some of the links in the fringe above the face are of brass, apparently an original decorative feature.
Label TextWhen the Mughals invaded northern India around 1500, they brought with them the artistic traditions of Islamic Persia, including Persian arms and armor. The kulah khud is the most common type of Persian helmet, one of many variants of the widespread Islamic form with rounded skull, top spike, and mail neck-guard. But the embossed pattern on the helmet-bowl, reminiscent of the lotus flower, is typically Indian. This is only one of many Indian variants on the Persian kulah khud.ProvenanceEdward Hubbard Litchfield collection purchased by Museum from Parke-Bernet Galleries, NY on December 6, 1951, sale no. 1293. Price of $45 for lot which included HAM#s 2971.1-5 and HAM 2972. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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