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Lot 193

A Mughal gold koftgari steel Armour Suit (char-aina)
India, 18th Century
(4)

10 April 2008, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £6,600 inc. premium

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A Mughal gold koftgari steel Armour Suit (char-aina)
India, 18th Century

comprising four plaques, two rectangular ones shaped for the underarm, and two for front and back of body, very slightly curved, with incised and damascened decoration consisting of a panel of vines bearing leafy palmettes all within a gilt floral border, with trefoil-shaped buckles
23.2 x 29.2 cm. max.(4)

Footnotes

It is rare to find a complete char-aina, 'the four mirrors'. In this case they are finely decorated with a design of classic Mughal arabesque motifs, inspired by designs on architectural stonework of the 17th Century.

For a similarly decorated char-aina, see H. J. Ricketts, Splendeurs des Armes Orientales, Exhibition Catalogue, 4th May-31st July 1988, no. 185; and also a plate of similar design can be seen in the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, (George Michell, The Majesty of Mughal Decoration, p. 130 and p. 279, no. 98.

Additional information