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Mail Coat

late 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Gwalior (made)

The mail coat is made of steel, brass and copper butted links arranged in a zig-zag pattern and has a purple velvet collar studded with gilt-headed nails. This is a typical armour of Rajasthan, probably worn only by royalty or senior military commanders. It was presented to the Indian Museum by H.H. the Maharaja of Holkar in 1850 and transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879. The coat probably dates to the late 18th century.

Object details

Categories
Arms & Armour
India Museum
Object type
Mail coat
Materials and techniques
Steel, brass and copper links,velvet collar with gilt headed nails.
Brief description
Mail coat composed of steel, brass and copper links; the velvet collar studded with gilt headed nails; Possibly Gwalior, late 18th century.
Physical description
Steel, brass and copper butted links arranged in a zig-zag pattern; the purple velvet collar studded with gilt headed nails.
Dimensions
  • Height: 84cm
  • Width: 30cm
Gallery label
(Nehru Gallery, 2001)
MAIL COAT: Steel, brass and copper links; the velvet collar studded with gilt headed nails; Possibly Gwalior, late 18th century.
Credit line
Transferred from the India Museum in 1879
Object history
Presented by HH the Maharaja of Holkar in 1850 to the Indian Museum
Production
Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879
Summary
The mail coat is made of steel, brass and copper butted links arranged in a zig-zag pattern and has a purple velvet collar studded with gilt-headed nails. This is a typical armour of Rajasthan, probably worn only by royalty or senior military commanders. It was presented to the Indian Museum by H.H. the Maharaja of Holkar in 1850 and transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879. The coat probably dates to the late 18th century.
Bibliographic references
  • Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 120, Cat. No. 571
  • 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.120
Other number
571 - Egerton Catalogue Number
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
3183 (IS)

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Record createdJuly 3, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158363/mail-coat-unknown/
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