Shield (Dhàl)
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Hide, copper alloy, leather, lacquer, polychromy
Dimensions
Diam. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm); Wt. 2 lbs. 10.8 oz. (1213.4 g)
Classification
Shields
Culture
Indian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
Accession Number
36.25.618
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Dhàl* shield, crafted by an unknown Indian artist in the 18th–19th century, exemplifies the fusion of functionality and artistry in traditional Indian arms and armor. Measuring just 14¼ inches in diameter and weighing around 2.7 pounds, its lightweight design made it ideal for mounted warriors, who wielded it deftly in one hand alongside a sword or lance. Displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department, it entered the collection through the 1935 bequest of George C. Stone, a passionate collector of global weaponry. Constructed from hide stretched taut ove...