Dhal (shield)

Culture Punjab , northern India

Dateearly to mid 1800s

Mediumsteel, iron, gold, fabric and leather

Dimensions37 cm; 3 lb 12 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.118

DescriptionWatered (?) steel. Circular, rising sharply to domed center; central plain dome of a single sheet of (probably watered) steel, encircled by outer ring of perhaps lower-grade steel. Applied steel rim, with traces of gilding, secured with rivets. Applied steel rim. Grip apparatus secured under four large bossets with lobed flanges, gold koft-gari with arabesques on bosses and trefoils on flanges. Borders are divided into two registers, first topped by trefoil scroll with cartouches containing hunting scenes, second alternately with Arabic inscription and leaf and petal scroll. Remnants of velvet lining with stuffed rectangular pad held with metal eye hooks at each boss. Each hook has large iron butted ring holding two leather straps for arms.Label TextThe dhal is a small round shield held in one hand by a pair of straps in back. Like many other north Indian arms, it has its origin in Iran, where it was called a sipar. Along with other features of Iranian culture, this type of shield came to India with the Mughals, who conquered much of India in the 1500s; but like other Mughal arms and armor, it would come to be decorated in distinctively Indian styles.ProvenancePurchased by the Museum on March 14, 1931 from The American Art Association, NYC., sale no. 3894, lot no. 616 of the Daniel Z. Noorian Collection.
Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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