Lot 128
  • 128

A Mughal or Deccani steel vambrace or armguard (dastana) and mace, India, 17th century

Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
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Description

  • Steel
  • 13 1/2 x 23 5/8 inches
the armguard of cylindrical form curved out at the elbow with an eliptical transverse rib at the wrist, the wrist plate hinged and secured with a pin, decorated with ribbed, knotted and palmette panels, the edges pierced with chainmail rivets, red enamel no. 21719.14 to the interior; the mace with a faceted shaft decorated with palmette and ribbed panels, the six-flanged head chiselled with makaras and surmounted by a domed finial, devanagari mark chiselled to the shaft

Provenance

Howard Ricketts, London, 1974 (vambrace)

Condition

armband in good overall condition, some surface abrasion and areas of pitting and patination; the mace in good overall condition, small minor surface abrasions, as viewed
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

'This massive, heavy object could crack an enemy's helmet, unhorse him at a single blow or dent an elephant... Brobdingnagian warriors wield maces of corresponding heft in several of the miniatures from the Hamza-nama, swinging them in fierce struggles against demons, giants, and polycephalous dragons.'
(Welch 1985, p.161, speaking of a comparable mace).

A Mughal steel mace with similar raised palmette fillets along the shaft and makara terminals to the head is in the Victoria & Albert Museum (Skelton 1982, p.136, no.447), and further maces with comparable flanged heads are in the Metropolitan Museum and Junagarh Fort at Bikaner, illustrated in Elgood 2004, pp.188-9, figs. 18.6, 18.11 and 18.12.