My ''Pizza'' Rhino Dhal with 6 bosses

[francantolin]

Hello,

I'd like to share with you some pictures of my new dhal shield I just received.

It look like a calzone-pizza but it is really nice.
I think it's made with rhino leather because it's really thick ( 11mm ) and translucent.
( weight 2kgs for 42cm diameter ).
Nice ( original ? ) pads inside.

I think it's indian but don't know much about exact origin and age ;
19th century ? Earlier ?
( it was really dirty so I clean it gently, the bosses were really rusty before )
Comments welcomed.
Thank you !!

[Gavin Nugent]

Congratulations on a good find, these larger 6 boss types are harder to find these days, I keep one in my collections too.
I've often wondered what was uses to coat these and how it was applied as it seems some were coated and then patterns made before they dried.

Gavin

[francantolin]

Hello Gavin,
Thank you !
On internet, I only found a ''similar'' shield with 6 bosses on Ashokaarts.

[Timo Nieminen]

They're certainly not as common.

The older English-language literature (e.g., Stone, Robinson's "Oriental Armour", etc.) often says that the six-boss style is Persian (but sometimes offers an Indian example).

A cavalryman's shield, whether Persian or Indian.

[francantolin]

Hello,
thank you ,
yes maybe it's persian,
In this painting, ( Qajar shah ? ).
There is five or six bosses on the shield
( matching with his suit ! )
It look ( a little ) like ...

[Gavin Nugent]

Indian for sure, the lacquer and designs to the lacquer is seen on many varieties of Dhal from India.

Gavin