Shield "dhal" or "sipar" · India/ Persia · ID: 3042245
Description
steel, sun motif in the centre, surrounded by four bosses, separately worked flute players underneath, the whole surface chased and engraved with floral elements, min. dam., slight traces of corrosion and usage;
“dhal” is an Indian shield, also used in Persia as “sipar” and other countries between. It is nearly round and varies in diameter. Some are nearly flat while others are strongly convex. It is hold by two handles fastened to ring bolts that pass through the shields and are riveted to bosses on the outside. Between the handles there is a square cushion for the knuckles to rest against.
The object Shield “dhal” or “sipar” with the object ID 3042245 was part of the auction 86th Tribal Art Auction on May 27, 2017. The object with the lot number 71 achieved a sales price of EUR 350 with an asking price of EUR 250.
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Comparing literature
Stone, George Cameron, A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in all countries and all times, New York 1934, p. 208