Shield from India

Jim McDougall · 7th December 2022, 05:36 PM

This is an attractive shield , and its impressive decoration, as very well explained by Peter, illustrates the pantheon and key figures in much of Indian religious belief. As not well versed in the various dynamics of Hinduism or the other Faith's associated I defer on elaborating further, but Peter has already covered the themes of these panels.

Clearly this is a commemorative and ceremonial type piece which is from what is sometimes referred to as the 'durbar period' in the British Raj, and would extend from late 1870s well into 1900s. The most influential were the three Delhi Durbars of 1877, 1903 and 1911. These were essentially formal meetings in the princely states where the ruler's court and British administrators met and discussed matters of state, along with celebratory events and ceremony.

At these events there were many attendees of course, including many British and other foreign people so vendors and artisans assembled in large bazaar type venues where their wares would be sold.In many cases, the offerings were a kind of 'showing off' of the artisan's skills, often to impress as well as obviously the sales. There were of course various degrees of quality which depended on the vendors.

ariel · 7th December 2022, 06:11 PM

The durbars were even more than just bazaars. Rajas were preparing for them and acquired impressive retinues armed with impressive weapons ( mostly newly made) , wearing impressive garb etc. This was something resembling Oscars ceremony in which all attendees did their best to impress everybody on the " Red Carpet". We often see enormous unwieldable teghas with bronze/brass decorations from those celebratory gatherings. Bragging parties, in short.
The owner of this shield wanted to show his military might. Other similar shields had full pantheons of divine personalities.

mahratt · 7th December 2022, 08:04 PM

Many thanks to everyone for opinions!

Gustav · 7th December 2022, 08:40 PM

As Interested Party noted, the mounts (vehicles) - Vahana - are very helpful for indentification of Indian deities:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahana

Interested Party · 8th December 2022, 02:52 PM

At my first glance I though, assumed, that the circles being held were Chakras. Once I took a better look, I could see only the top right figure held a chakra, the rest held bucklers, targets. It is interesting a shield with a theme of shields. Definitely a different metaphysical meaning.

I haven't had time to dive into the iconography yet but, is the center panel the heavenly architect, Vishvakarma? I thought Brahma at first because the central figure is unarmed but there is no swan. The chariot made me think of Vishvakarma. To make it more confusing is that a lotus emerging from the figure's navel?

Gustav · 8th December 2022, 03:20 PM

The figure in central panel is Surya, the sun deity. He sits in a carriage drawn by seven horses (seven meters of Sanskrit prosody, days in a week, seven colours) and holds two lotus blossoms. He is flanked by two goddesses of dawn (or his two wifes), shooting arrows.

Interested Party · 8th December 2022, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gustav

The figure in central panel is Surya, the sun deity. He sits in a carriage drawn by seven horses (seven meters of Sanskrit prosody, days in a week, seven colours) and holds two lotus blossoms. He is flanked by two goddesses of dawn (or his two wifes), shooting arrows.

Thanks Gustav! Now I see it. And around the icon is a circle made of three petaled flowers alternated with leaves that insinuate sunrays, a chakra, mandala, and a wheel of death and rebirth. Or it could be just a border separating elements. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

7th December 2022, 05:36 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	This is an attractive shield , and its impressive decoration, as very well explained by Peter, illustrates the pantheon and key figures in much of Indian religious belief. As not well versed in the various dynamics of Hinduism or the other Faith's associated I defer on elaborating further, but Peter has already covered the themes of these panels. Clearly this is a commemorative and ceremonial type piece which is from what is sometimes referred to as the 'durbar period' in the British Raj, and would extend from late 1870s well into 1900s. The most influential were the three Delhi Durbars of 1877, 1903 and 1911. These were essentially formal meetings in the princely states where the ruler's court and British administrators met and discussed matters of state, along with celebratory events and ceremony. At these events there were many attendees of course, including many British and other foreign people so vendors and artisans assembled in large bazaar type venues where their wares would be sold.In many cases, the offerings were a kind of 'showing off' of the artisan's skills, often to impress as well as obviously the sales. There were of course various degrees of quality which depended on the vendors.

7th December 2022, 06:11 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The durbars were even more than just bazaars. Rajas were preparing for them and acquired impressive retinues armed with impressive weapons ( mostly newly made) , wearing impressive garb etc. This was something resembling Oscars ceremony in which all attendees did their best to impress everybody on the " Red Carpet". We often see enormous unwieldable teghas with bronze/brass decorations from those celebratory gatherings. Bragging parties, in short. The owner of this shield wanted to show his military might. Other similar shields had full pantheons of divine personalities.

7th December 2022, 08:04 PM	#3
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	Many thanks to everyone for opinions!

7th December 2022, 08:40 PM	#4
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,273	As Interested Party noted, the mounts (vehicles) - Vahana - are very helpful for indentification of Indian deities: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahana

8th December 2022, 02:52 PM	#5
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 491	At my first glance I though, assumed, that the circles being held were Chakras. Once I took a better look, I could see only the top right figure held a chakra, the rest held bucklers, targets. It is interesting a shield with a theme of shields. Definitely a different metaphysical meaning. I haven't had time to dive into the iconography yet but, is the center panel the heavenly architect, Vishvakarma? I thought Brahma at first because the central figure is unarmed but there is no swan. The chariot made me think of Vishvakarma. To make it more confusing is that a lotus emerging from the figure's navel?

8th December 2022, 03:20 PM	#6
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,273	The figure in central panel is Surya, the sun deity. He sits in a carriage drawn by seven horses (seven meters of Sanskrit prosody, days in a week, seven colours) and holds two lotus blossoms. He is flanked by two goddesses of dawn (or his two wifes), shooting arrows.