This attached image of a shield is an example of a brass rim that is riveted on....... Also, notice that the shield boss's are plain and absent of chiseled floral decoration as the facing of this sipar has....
Friday, May 22, 2009
Persian Shield Labeled as Iron at Topkapi Museum
This Qajar shield in Topkapi Museum and labeled as iron....
Suspect this shield may be associated with a royal household, have a larger file image I can email if you are interested in trying to translate any of the calligraphy.
"DEMIR KALKANIRAN,
19.yy.IRON SHIELD
Iranian, 19th century."
Split Leaf Decoration Near Rim
The black and white image is a carved stone at Ghazna from the 14th century with split leaf decoration on the border....
Have two photo's attached, one is of the 19th century Qajar sipar discussed on this thread and the other is a 17th century shield also with split leaf decoration on the outer edge adjacent to the rim.
Comparing the two you can see the 17th century shield has a higher quality of chisel work, you can see how the design has more detail than the Qajar shield in this example.
The 17th century shield is also made from wootz and the Qajar shield is iron.
Date and Origen Attribution
For this shield, because of the uncovered gold koftgari oval inside the floral decoration with a dated Persian example of 1838, would attribute this shield to the second quarter of the 19th century.
Also, because of the use of a popular Persian decorative rose, namely the chisel work creating the rose floral decoration in the central portion between the gold koftgari, would attribute this shield as Persian. The Persian (Farsi) word for shield is sipar.
This time period was part of the Qajar Dynasty(1781-1925), Faht Ali Shah was the ruler from 1797 to 1834 and Mohammad Shah Qajar ruler from 1834 to 1848. Seems likely this sipar made during the reign of one of these two Shahs.Link to Mohammad Shah
Qajar
Link to Faht Ali Shah
Applied Decoration
One type of decoration on this shield is application of gold and silver wire to a surface that has had cross hatched lines incised onto the metals surface sometimes referred to as koftgari. After application the metal is heated, let cool and then the gold and/or silver wire is burnished, this forms a surprisingly good adherance to the surface.The central area of this sipar has the gold koftgari and the outer section nearer the rim has silver koftgari.Another technique used on this shield is whats known as chisel work or engraving. This is where metal is removed from the surface leaving a decorative motif behind. On this shield the primary engraved decorations are floral designs and calligraphy. In the Islamic countries Calligraphy was considered one of the highest forms of art.Another decoratin has a duel purpose, that is the rolled iron rim of the shield. this rolled rim defines the border of the art work applied to the shield and also is an important strengthening technique to resist bending or cutting, it also would catch the tip of a pointed weapons sliding down the shield such as an arrow, spear or sword and possibly preventing that from injuring the shield holder.One of the photo's also shows the shield boss, these are the domed shaped sections on the front of the shield thats function are to allow the eye hook bolts that hold the knuckle pad on this shield. On other shields with more bosses(usually six) they may also hold and arm strap. This addition of an arm strap makes a shield more functional as a defense against a sword.
Back Side of Shield
The back side of this shield shows a plain red quilted padding with a tan backing that shows on the front as an edging. This is likely a replacement but it shows us the type of work done to absorb shock and make the shield more comfortable to use.There is a quilted circular padding that covers the entire back of the shield and is attached with a type of glue. Then there is a smaller thicker padded quilt section that is about the size of the four bosses on the shield that is attached via four eye hooks that are attached via the shield bosses. This additional thicker padding is to provide more shock absorbtion to protect the users hand from injury.There would normally also be two padded gripping straps that are absent in this example. The wires seen in the photo are for displaying the sipar as you would a picture on the wall. One note here is that a central gripping strap on a shield this size.(17.5" daimeter), is primarily to hold the shield in a defensive position against arrows or other missile fire. If you were to hit this shield off center with a sword or spear it would easily plane (rotate ninety degrees), leaving the user vulnerable to the next incoming blow.
Decoration inside calligraphy panels
An unusual feature on this shield inside the calligraphy panels, there is a incised fish-scale like embellishment around the calligraphy. This seems to have a duel function, first an added decorative feature and secondly it seems to make the writing stand out more making it easier to read. The calligraphy of armour are most often quotes from the Quran, as it was thought to be a talismanic added protection for the bearer.
All the calligraphy panels on this shield are posted below.....
Persian Iron Shield (Sipar)
Islamic iron shield indentified as being Persian because the decorative motif used apears to be a rise floral design was more commenly used in Persia than elsewhere. The word for shield in Farsi (Persia) is sipar. In truth there is no absolute manner to determine as to being from Persia or India
Because the metal on this shield is not wootz it is assumed to be iron for it would be easier to work and still is effective against sword, arrow and spears.
Rolled Rim
The edge of the shield has a rolled rim. This is a technique used by armours for centuries where at the edge of the shield the metal is rolled back onto itself. This type of edge increases the stiffness and also make it more comfortable for the user.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Persian Iron Shield
For cleaning the oxidation from the silver koftgari used a mild metal cleaner called Flintz, dabbing a little onto a finger and rubbing a small area of the shield lightly, then wiping excess of with a clean cloth and repeat this procedure.
+(Small).jpg)
The Persian bowl is in the Moser Collection and dated 1838. In the cut-out section of the bowl and shield you see where the decorative motif of a leaf created by over laying gold onto the iron with a technique known as koftgari there remains an oval shaped area within the leaf where the iron is still visible leaving this additional design.
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