Arm Guard thumbnail 1
Arm Guard thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Arm Guard

1733-1734 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This steel armguard is finely decorated on the outer surfaces with chiselled decorative motifs and calligraphy, all covered with silver or gilt silver. The Arabic inscriptions, which are gilt, include the standard Shia Muslim prayer, the Nadi ‘Ali, and verses from the Qur’an. The armguard is also incised with the date of its manufacture, 1146 of the Islamic Hegira era, which converts to 1733–1734 in the Gregorian calandar.

The V&A bought the armguard in 1904 from a Mr G.H. Thomas, who said he had acquired it in India ‘from the armoury of King Shuja-oddaolah of Afghanistan’. The date precedes the two periods of Shah Shuja’s rule in Afghanistan (1803–1809 and 1839–1842), but this does not necessarily rule out the stated provenance, since most royal armouries would contain earlier pieces, either received as presents or seized as booty. The 18th century was a period of great upheaval with frequent incursions by the Afghans into the Panjab, and it is impossible to know whether the armguard was made in a traditional weapon-making centre such as Lahore, or in Afghanistan.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Steel, overlaid with gold and silver
Brief description
Arm guard; steel overlaid with sheet silver and gold wire; Afghanistan or Panjab, dated 1146 AH/1733-34 AD.
Physical description
The steel arm guard is of a standard form found in the Mughal empire from the 17th century onwards, though it has two shorter sections protecting the inner forearm rather than the more usual single piece. The sections are attached to each other by rivetted steel links. The outer surface is entirely covered with silver overlay, and further embellished with gold overlaid decoration applied over a chiselled and ring-matted ground.
Dimensions
  • Length: 32cm
  • Depth: 19.5cm
  • Height: 22cm
Marks and inscriptions
There is an incised date, 1146 AH, which converts to 1733-34 AD. The armguard also has religious inscriptions including the standard prayer of Shia Muslims, the Nadi 'Ali, and verses from the Koran.
Translation
Inscription on the arm guard: O Guardian یا حافظ O Giver of victory یا ناصر O Loyalیا امین O Giver of aid یا معین O Sufficient یا کافی O Restorer of health یا شافی O Faithful یا وافی O Forgiver یا معافی O Guide یا هادی O Summoner یا داعی O Judge یا قاضی اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ Allah - there is no god except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. بِسمِ اللهِ الرَّحمن الرَّحیم In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful ناد علیا مظهر العجائب تجده عونا لک فی النّوائب کلّ هَمٍّ و غمٍّ سَینجَلی بِعَظَمَتِکَ یا اللهُ بِنُبُوَّتِکَ یامُحَمَّدَ بِوَلایَتِکَ یا علیّ یا علی یا علی Call Ali, the manifestor of wonders, thou shall find him a helper unto thee in thy difficulties, presently all worries and sorrows will be removed, by thy greatness O lord, by thy apostleship O Muhammad, by thy authority O Ali, O Ali, O Ali لا فتی الا علیّ لا سیف الاّ ذوالفقار There is no noble youth but Ali, there is no sword but Zolfiqar سبحانك يا لا إله الا أنت الغوث الغوث خلصنا من النار يا رب Praise be to Thee, there is no god but Thee, the Granter of all succour, protect us from the fire, O Lord
Credit line
Purchased from Mr G.H.Thomas
Object history
The armguard was sold by Mr G. H. Thomas to the V&A in 1904 with the information that he had acquired it in India "from the armoury of King Shuja-oddaolah of Afghanistan". However, the date on the armguard, 1733-34, predates the two periods of Shah Shuja's rule in Afghanistan (1803-09 and 1839-42), but this does not necessarily rule out the stated provenance as most royal armouries would contain earlier pieces, either received as presents or seized as booty.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This steel armguard is finely decorated on the outer surfaces with chiselled decorative motifs and calligraphy, all covered with silver or gilt silver. The Arabic inscriptions, which are gilt, include the standard Shia Muslim prayer, the Nadi ‘Ali, and verses from the Qur’an. The armguard is also incised with the date of its manufacture, 1146 of the Islamic Hegira era, which converts to 1733–1734 in the Gregorian calandar.

The V&A bought the armguard in 1904 from a Mr G.H. Thomas, who said he had acquired it in India ‘from the armoury of King Shuja-oddaolah of Afghanistan’. The date precedes the two periods of Shah Shuja’s rule in Afghanistan (1803–1809 and 1839–1842), but this does not necessarily rule out the stated provenance, since most royal armouries would contain earlier pieces, either received as presents or seized as booty. The 18th century was a period of great upheaval with frequent incursions by the Afghans into the Panjab, and it is impossible to know whether the armguard was made in a traditional weapon-making centre such as Lahore, or in Afghanistan.
Bibliographic references
  • Stronge, S. (Ed.) "The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms", V&A, 1999 cat. 33 p. 213
  • Jackson, Anna and Ji Wei (eds.) with Rosemary Crill, Ainsley M. Cameron and Nicholas Barnard, compiled by the Palace Museum, translated by Yuan Hong, Qi Yue and Liu Ran. The Splendour of India' Royal Courts : Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Beijing: the Forbidden City Publishing House, 2013. Text in English and Chinese. ISBN 9787513403917. pps. 186-187
Collection
Accession number
190-1904

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Record createdJanuary 2, 2003
Record URL
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