Dhal
Roy Coles
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1875 - 1905
Materials
paint, velvet, brass, rhinoceros hide & gilt
Measurements
140 mm (D); 580 mm (Dia)
Place of origin
Kutch
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 107218
Summary
Round, convex Indian shield (Dhal) made from rhinoceros hide and has a painted rosette in the centre with a geometric border around the edge. It is held by two padded handles that are fastened by ring bolts which pass through the shield and are riveted to the four external gilt openwork bosses. There is a square cushion of red velvet between the two handles that acts as a knuckle rest. This particular shield came from Kutch which is now part of Gujarat. 'A shield (Dhal) of rhinoceros hide, with four gilt metal bosses, a central painted rosette within similar border - Indian (Cutch)' (Christie's entry)
Provenance
Purchased in 1986 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000). Gifted to the National Trust in 1987 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Makers and roles
Roy Coles, maker