Painted Dhal
Origin: India
Date: Late 18th / Early 19th Century
Size: 19 Inch Diameter
Ref: SD23013
Price: SOLD
A painted hide Dhal shield of shallow convex form decorated in a floral and fauna theme.
The shield is set with four primary bosses which are of Wootz steel displaying an active watered pattern of high contrast. The borders of the bosses display open work and gold koftgari overlay.
Shields of this calibre would often be decorated with jewelled bosses that would be removed for safe keeping which was common practice during the period. On this example witness marks are impressed on the surface of the shield by previous bosses indicating that the current Wootz bosses are later replacements.
