Not on display

Nag-p'hani dhal

Shield
early 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Nepal (made)

shiled of black rhino hide with copper gilt mounts. The centre is decorated with interlacing triangles enclosing an eight-petalled lotus flower and surrounded by eight variously chased bosses each with gilt copper pendants. A triple border of floral scrolls, spangled bosses and arabesques of birds in low relief surround the shield. The whole is enclosed by a coil of snakes which meet at the top of the shield with three uplifted heads

Object details

Categories
Arms & Armour
India Museum
Object type
Shield
TitleNag-p'hani dhal (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Rhino hide, lacquered with opper gilt mounts
Brief description
Shield (Nag-p'hani dhal), lit.'snake-hood shield' of black rhino hide with copper gilt mounts, pendants and raised snake motifs, Nepal, early 19th century
Physical description
shiled of black rhino hide with copper gilt mounts. The centre is decorated with interlacing triangles enclosing an eight-petalled lotus flower and surrounded by eight variously chased bosses each with gilt copper pendants. A triple border of floral scrolls, spangled bosses and arabesques of birds in low relief surround the shield. The whole is enclosed by a coil of snakes which meet at the top of the shield with three uplifted heads
Dimensions
  • Taken from egerton diameter: 26.5in
Credit line
Transferred from the India Museum in 1879
Object history
Nag-p'hani dhal, lit. 'snake-hood shield'
Production
Transferred from the East India Company Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879
Bibliographic references
  • Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 103, Cat. No. 365
  • Egerton, Wilbraham, An illustrated handbook of Indian arms; being a classified and descriptive catalogue of the arms exhibited at the India museum: with an introductory sketch of the military history of India, London, 1880 p.103
Other numbers
  • 365 - Egerton Catalogue Number
  • 8781-'55 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
3060(IS)

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Record createdJune 23, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O101086/nag-phani-dhal-shield-unknown/
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