Skip to content
Pitt Rivers Museum
AboutHire the MuseumNewsletterUniversity of Oxford

1884.30.49

Black circular shield of lacquered ? buffalo hide with recurved rim. There are four central tooth-edged bosses, a crescent and two smaller bosses, all of copper. [LM 26/03/2007]

On display

1884.30.49

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

Terms and Conditions

If you wish to order a high-resolution image and/or licence its use for print or web publication, exhibition, film, promotional product or any other use, whether in the academic or commercial sector of any print run, then please visit photographic services.

Collection type
Object
Description
Black circular shield of lacquered ? buffalo hide with recurved rim. There are four central tooth-edged bosses, a crescent and two smaller bosses, all of copper. [LM 26/03/2007]
Long description
Black circular shield of lacquered ? buffalo hide with recurved rim. There are four central tooth-edged bosses, a crescent and two smaller bosses, all of copper. On the back is a square pad of stamped red leather, bolted to the shield through the bosses, with four metal rings for attaching a grip. The copper alloy coins used as washers for the bolts have a heraldic motif of two lions holding a flag of St George and are dated 1853. [LM 26/03/2007]
Date / Period
Date made: After 1853
Date collected
After 1853 and by 1862
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Animal Hide Skin, Material Copper Metal, Material Brass Metal, Material Lacquer Varnish, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Material Buffalo Cattle Skin Animal, Process Lacquered Varnished, Process Stamped, Process Struck, Process Inscribed
Dimensions
Diameter: max 405 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.30.49 PR Cat other PR nos: 91 PR Cat other PR nos: 279
Research and responses

Dhal were most commonly made of Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornus) rawhide, which was dried and lacquered, but not tanned. Rhinoceros hide was valued for shield-making because it could take on a striking translucent quality, and was harder and more durable than buffalo leather. The Asian rhinoceros was much more widely available for hunting prior to 1600 AD. The skin of the freshwater porpoise was occasionally also used for making shields in India, as were steel, wood, and papier maché. Four brass bosses are typical of Indian shields, which both protect and conceal the fixings that support the two handles inside. These straps were held in the hand during fighting. They had a third leather strap, or silk scarf, tied between them when not in use, so that the shield could be slung over the back when riding. This style of convex circular shield was used throughout western and southern Asia – particularly Persia – from the early 7th century AD onwards – although the characteristic four-bossed shape is distinctive to the Indian subcontinent. Relevant Reading: Robinson, H.R. (1967) Oriental Armour. London: Herbert Jenkins. Egerton of Tatton, Lord (1968) Indian & Oriental Armour. London: Arms & Armour Press. Welch, S.C. (1985) India: Art & Culture, 1300-1900. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. Research Conducted for DCF Cutting Edge 2006/2007 [AM].

Search terms: Weapon, Figure, Currency, Shield, Animal Figure, Coin