Indian Dhal help

RobertGuy · 30th August 2015, 12:23 PM

Hello all, this is my first post here and thought I would share , and ask some questions about, a recently purchased Indian Dhal. Purchased from the world's favourite auction site, the seller described it as:

''Old mughal Dhal with religious? Chiselwork/Engravings.Very nice piece and in good condition. Probably from 1800s maybe earlier. Solid shield.''

I suspect it is late 1800s or even more recent rather than earlier. The shield is steel, 12.25 inches in diameter and weighs 2 lbs. The reverse is covered in blue cloth. I have made my own leather cushion and straps to make it a functional piece. I have posted on other forums but I am getting nowhere with the script on the shield which I think is Hindi (but could be any sub-continent language or even Arabic.) I have tried to separate out the script to make it clearer and would be very grateful if anybody here can translate the panels. They might of course just be decorative panels with no meaning. Thanks in advance for any help or opinions.

RobertGuy · 30th August 2015, 05:44 PM

Sorry, not used to the image upload system here yet. These should have been included.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 30th August 2015, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertGuy

Hello all, this is my first post here and thought I would share , and ask some questions about, a recently purchased Indian Dhal. Purchased from the world's favourite auction site, the seller described it as:

''Old mughal Dhal with religious? Chiselwork/Engravings.Very nice piece and in good condition. Probably from 1800s maybe earlier. Solid shield.''

I suspect it is late 1800s or even more recent rather than earlier. The shield is steel, 12.25 inches in diameter and weighs 2 lbs. The reverse is covered in blue cloth. I have made my own leather cushion and straps to make it a functional piece. I have posted on other forums but I am getting nowhere with the script on the shield which I think is Hindi (but could be any sub-continent language or even Arabic.) I have tried to separate out the script to make it clearer and would be very grateful if anybody here can translate the panels. They might of course just be decorative panels with no meaning. Thanks in advance for any help or opinions.

Salaams RobertGuy...May we see the business end front of this shield...It may offer clues... Meanwhile the Hindu Script which may be upside down arabic ...we will have a look at...
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Jens Nordlunde · 30th August 2015, 10:42 PM

I am fully with Ibrahiim.
What you show may be interesting and it may not be - as you show an unclear picture of the back of the shield.
You dont show close upse of of the inscriptions, and you dont show the front of the shield.
How do you think any of us could/would give any oppinion?
Regards
Jens

AJ1356 · 30th August 2015, 11:18 PM

If you take the pictures, rotate them 180 degrees and then repost them with the frontal pics, and we'll be able to do something about it.

RobertGuy · 31st August 2015, 12:10 AM

My apologies to everyone. I'm having trouble getting used to the file uploader and file sizes. These pictures should have been included.

ward · 31st August 2015, 06:38 PM

It is modern and has been artificially aged. The script looks Arabic but probably is done by a non Arabic speaker for looks.

30th August 2015, 12:23 PM	#1
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	Indian Dhal help Hello all, this is my first post here and thought I would share , and ask some questions about, a recently purchased Indian Dhal. Purchased from the world's favourite auction site, the seller described it as: ''Old mughal Dhal with religious? Chiselwork/Engravings.Very nice piece and in good condition. Probably from 1800s maybe earlier. Solid shield.'' I suspect it is late 1800s or even more recent rather than earlier. The shield is steel, 12.25 inches in diameter and weighs 2 lbs. The reverse is covered in blue cloth. I have made my own leather cushion and straps to make it a functional piece. I have posted on other forums but I am getting nowhere with the script on the shield which I think is Hindi (but could be any sub-continent language or even Arabic.) I have tried to separate out the script to make it clearer and would be very grateful if anybody here can translate the panels. They might of course just be decorative panels with no meaning. Thanks in advance for any help or opinions. Attached Images

31st August 2015, 12:10 AM	#6
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	My apologies to everyone. I'm having trouble getting used to the file uploader and file sizes. These pictures should have been included. Attached Images

30th August 2015, 05:44 PM	#2
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	Sorry, not used to the image upload system here yet. These should have been included.

30th August 2015, 10:42 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I am fully with Ibrahiim. What you show may be interesting and it may not be - as you show an unclear picture of the back of the shield. You dont show close upse of of the inscriptions, and you dont show the front of the shield. How do you think any of us could/would give any oppinion? Regards Jens

30th August 2015, 11:18 PM	#5
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 314	If you take the pictures, rotate them 180 degrees and then repost them with the frontal pics, and we'll be able to do something about it.

31st August 2015, 06:38 PM	#7
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	It is modern and has been artificially aged. The script looks Arabic but probably is done by a non Arabic speaker for looks.