Antique 18th Century Indian St. Thomas Christian Warrior Shield Dhal India Mughal Period

Very rare antique, 18th – early 19th century, Indian Mughal period, a shield of a Christian Indian warrior, buckler. The shield is embellished in the center with a large Christian cross of St. Thomas (Mar Thoma Sleeva). This distinctive cross is the religious and cultural symbol of Saint Thomas Christians in India, also called Syrian Christians of India, Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani, Malankara Nasrani, or Nasrani Mappila.

The shield is made of hand-hammered solid brass. The front is finely hand chiseled, embellished throughout with red and black enamel, and has a silver overlay. The back of the shield is silver-plated.

The large Saint Thomas Christian cross (Mar Thoma Sleeva) is red-enameled and ornamented with creeper designs. Each lobed terminal is decorated with two interlocking small st. Thomas Christian crosses one brass and the second overlaid in silver.

The shield is set with four domed bosses, affixed on the reverse by four faceted bolts with rings for straps (to hold the shield).

The Saint Thomas cross on the shield indicates that the buckler was custom-made for the Saint Thomas Christian Indian warrior.

This type of small shield buckler has been used by Indian warriors in hand-to-hand combat throughout the Indian subcontinent for centuries. Its small size helped deflect an opponent's sword's blow. Its lightness and curved center allow maneuverability when dealing with sword blades. It was excellent for deflecting attacking blades and could be used to directly attack an opponent by punching with either its flat face or rim. It was also used to bind an opponent's sword hand, weapon, and buckler against their body.

REFERENCES:

1. For the information regarding the St. Thomas Christian cross and the Saint Thomas Christians of India, please see the link below:

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

2. A similar small shield is on display in the Indian Museum as equipment of an armored Indian Mughal warrior of the 17th–18th centuries (the last picture in the listing).

3. A related enameled brass shield from the National Museum of New Delhi, dated by museum experts to the 18th—19th century, is published in the book "Indian Armours in the National Museum Collection Catalogue" by G.N. Pant and K.K. Sharma, pages 66-67, figure 44.

4. Another shield similar in form but without the cross is in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.

Please see the link below:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dhal_%28shield%29,_India,_Lucknow,_Awadh,_Mughal_period,_early_19th_century,_steel,_bronze_-_Royal_Ontario_Museum_-_DSC04547.JPG

The buyer will be provided with a copy of the pages from the mentioned references together with a certificate of authenticity.

MEASUREMENTS: Diameter: 22.5 cm (8.86 inches)

CONDITION: It is in good condition with an old patina, showing age and use.