Big dhal leather shield 25 inches

[rand]

Hi,

Your shield certainly is an Indian dhal. The four brass boss'es held on with a brass rivet passing through a brass washer, one of the washers has a flower shape. The shield bosses have a circular padding underneath that does not show too much soiling. The weight of 6.6 lbs seems very high, normally these leather shields are much lighter.

The style of split leaf floral/vine is also Indian displayed in four quadrants. Is unusual to have two such contrasting similar colors, one the circular central medallion and the other the four floral patterns. Often the clear lacquer over a painted area can fade, changing its brightness. Makes me wonder if the four floral designs may have been applied at a different time.

Sometimes you can hold a shield up to light and see through it. Other times you can see and feel surface texture forming erratic plate shapes, other times the surface is smooth and painted/stained opaque. Its amazing how strong the cuirboille technique is for making armor.

rand