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A set of gold-koftgari watered-steel armour Lahore, circa 1820(7) image 1
A set of gold-koftgari watered-steel armour Lahore, circa 1820(7) image 2
A set of gold-koftgari watered-steel armour Lahore, circa 1820(7) image 3
A set of gold-koftgari watered-steel armour Lahore, circa 1820(7) image 4
A set of gold-koftgari watered-steel armour Lahore, circa 1820(7) image 5
Lot 215

A set of gold-koftgari watered-steel armour
Lahore, circa 1820
(7)

11 June 2020, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £81,312.50 inc. premium

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A set of gold-koftgari watered-steel armour
Lahore, circa 1820

comprising a helmet (khula-khud), two arm-guards (dastanas) and four armour panels (char-aina), decorated en-suite in gold overlay with bands containing undulating floral vines and bands containing alternating lotus and palmette motifs, the helmet with noseguard surmounted by an openwork turban ornament (jigha), flanked by plume holders, the camail with steel and brass rings forming a zig-zag design, the helmet and armour plates with quilted red velvet padding, mounted
the larger armour plates 32.7 x 25 cm.(7)

Footnotes

This suit of armour is a fine example of work form the Lahore workshop. The high quality watered steel is embellished with typical bands of gold floral decoration. The neckguard or camail, suspended from the bowl of the helmet, is of fine butted iron and brass links creating an elegant geometric zig-zag pattern known as 'Ganga- Jamuna' - the two contrasting colours representing the churning waters at the confluence of two of India's most sacred rivers, the Ganges and the Yamuna.

Additional information