AN INDIAN CARVED AND GOLD DAMASCENED STEEL SUIT OF ARMOUR

AN INDIAN CARVED AND GOLD DAMASCENED STEEL SUIT OF ARMOUR

NORTH INDIA, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Comprising a helmet (khula khud), mail coat with four solid plates (char-i aina) and two armguards (bazuband), the helmet of typical form with very finely worked mail veil, the surface engraved with scrolling tendrils issuing iris flowerheads, a band of fine gold damascened floral meander below, the char-i aina and bazubands decorated en suite, the bazubands also with cloth mittens originally covered with red velvet with a lattice design worked in brass rivets, damages to cloth and mail coat

helmet 20in. (51cm.) high including veil