A Fascinating Indian Shield....What is its Symbolic Significance???

CharlesS · 22nd October 2014, 04:53 PM

I have recently been cleaning and studying this intricate mid 19th century Indian shield. The cleaning revealed a lot and also got me wondering a great deal about the symbolism of this shield.

The shield is made of two steel panels, heavily decorated in silver and gold koftgari. Pierced reinforcements, also heavily decorated in silver koftgari, separate the two panels.

There is a snake, or naga, resting its head on its tail separating the two pierced reinforcements. I believe I have read that this represents infinity or eternity in Hinduism....perhaps someone can add some info on this motif.

Along the outside panel of the shield brass animal figures, plated in silver, have been riveted to the shield. There are many different forms of animals in a variety of sizes, all facing in one direction, as if moving in a circle or cycle. Each animal has been carefully planned out, as cleaning revealed that each piece was preset with a gold koftgari outline that the animal figure fits into. This becomes particularly apparent with the loss of the tiger's tail in the one figure that is clearly one animal attacking or eating another....note the gold outline where the tail would have been before broken.

The silver and gold koftgari work alone is really fascinating...it's so full and extensive that the shield looks like, from a distance, that it is made of silver.
However, it is these animal figures moving in one direction and only at the bottom is one animal attacking/eating another that I find most fascinating.

Initially I had assumed this may just be a hunting scene on the shield, but now don't think it is at all, but perhaps something far more interesting. I can't help but wonder if this is a sort or representation of samsara, or the "cycle of life"...the hunter becoming the hunted and vice versa over an endless cycle.

I hope someone more familiar with these motifs, which I suspect are Hindu, can help us with this symbolism.

The shield is 17in. in diameter.

Thanks for any input!

RSWORD · 23rd October 2014, 10:44 PM

I can't believe nobody has responded to this post even if just to say what a beautiful shield. It sure is a purty thang. I agree completely there is a ton of symbolism in this shield and hopefully look forward to additional comments/thoughts about that

Battara · 23rd October 2014, 11:41 PM

I will hazard a guess, having seen this in hand. These animals on one level seem to be animals seen on a hunt, which was a popular thing back then. Perhaps a sign of manhood, skill, and warriorship?

Royston · 25th October 2014, 11:23 AM

That is one beautiful shield.

Interesting to see that the animals are made separately and riveted on.

I agree that hunting scenes are common on Indian arms. See the engraving on my zagnal.

Roy

VANDOO · 25th October 2014, 03:39 PM

THE ANIMALS REPRESENTED SEEM TO BE LEOPARD, JACKAL, RABBIT, BLACKBUCK AND HUNTING DOG. IT LOOKS LIKE A LEOPARD HAS CAUGHT A BLACKBUCK. NO TIGERS OR ELEPHANTS AS OFTEN SEEN IN INDIAN DESIGNS ESPECIALLY THOSE TELLING OF ROYAL TIGER HUNTS. BEAUTIFUL WORKMANSHIP AND PERHAPS IT DOES TELL A STORY? BUT I WOULD GUESS IT WAS MADE FOR SHOW NOT FOR ACTUAL USE. NO DOUBT THE SNAKE SYMBOLIZES SOMETHING AS WELL IF THERE IS A STORY BEING TOLD BUT IT MAY JUST BE A PRETTY DESIGN WITH ANIMALS RUNNING ON A FLORAL BACK GROUND, A BEAUTIFUL ITEM EITHER WAY.

Runjeet Singh · 26th October 2014, 10:51 PM

Hi Charles,

This shield has been bugging me all week, I have seen similar but couldn't remember where - well I had chance to go through my books, and found the one I had been thinking of, in fact there are at least three - all in the Royal Collection, at Sandringham.

Pics attached of one, they are described as blued steel, decorated with gold-damascening and riveted profile cut representations of wild animals; the field surrounded by four bosses encrusted with gold. Punjab province (Gujarat or Sialcot type) 19thC. Two are said to have been presented by H.H the Maharaja of Kapurthala, and a third presented by HH Maharaja of Bundelkhand. The latter said to be have an applied band of loop and knot pattern, which in my experience can be in the form of a snake.

Now we have a point of reference, and we all agree yours is a beautiful shield, we now need someone of authority to comment on any religious / symbolical significance there may lie in the design.

Hope that helps - Runjeet.

22nd October 2014, 04:53 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	A Fascinating Indian Shield....What is its Symbolic Significance??? I have recently been cleaning and studying this intricate mid 19th century Indian shield. The cleaning revealed a lot and also got me wondering a great deal about the symbolism of this shield. The shield is made of two steel panels, heavily decorated in silver and gold koftgari. Pierced reinforcements, also heavily decorated in silver koftgari, separate the two panels. There is a snake, or naga, resting its head on its tail separating the two pierced reinforcements. I believe I have read that this represents infinity or eternity in Hinduism....perhaps someone can add some info on this motif. Along the outside panel of the shield brass animal figures, plated in silver, have been riveted to the shield. There are many different forms of animals in a variety of sizes, all facing in one direction, as if moving in a circle or cycle. Each animal has been carefully planned out, as cleaning revealed that each piece was preset with a gold koftgari outline that the animal figure fits into. This becomes particularly apparent with the loss of the tiger's tail in the one figure that is clearly one animal attacking or eating another....note the gold outline where the tail would have been before broken. The silver and gold koftgari work alone is really fascinating...it's so full and extensive that the shield looks like, from a distance, that it is made of silver. However, it is these animal figures moving in one direction and only at the bottom is one animal attacking/eating another that I find most fascinating. Initially I had assumed this may just be a hunting scene on the shield, but now don't think it is at all, but perhaps something far more interesting. I can't help but wonder if this is a sort or representation of *samsara, or the "cycle of life"...the hunter becoming the hunted and vice versa over an endless cycle. I hope someone more familiar with these motifs, which I suspect are Hindu, can help us with this symbolism.* The shield is 17in. in diameter. Thanks for any input! Attached Images

25th October 2014, 11:23 AM	#4
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 441	That is one beautiful shield. Interesting to see that the animals are made separately and riveted on. I agree that hunting scenes are common on Indian arms. See the engraving on my zagnal. Roy Attached Images

26th October 2014, 10:51 PM	#6
Runjeet Singh Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warwickshire, England Posts: 150	Hi Charles, This shield has been bugging me all week, I have seen similar but couldn't remember where - well I had chance to go through my books, and found the one I had been thinking of, in fact there are at least three - all in the Royal Collection, at Sandringham. Pics attached of one, they are described as blued steel, decorated with gold-damascening and riveted profile cut representations of wild animals; the field surrounded by four bosses encrusted with gold. Punjab province (Gujarat or Sialcot type) 19thC. Two are said to have been presented by H.H the Maharaja of Kapurthala, and a third presented by HH Maharaja of Bundelkhand. The latter said to be have an applied band of loop and knot pattern, which in my experience can be in the form of a snake. Now we have a point of reference, and we all agree yours is a beautiful shield, we now need someone of authority to comment on any religious / symbolical significance there may lie in the design. Hope that helps - Runjeet. Attached Images

23rd October 2014, 10:44 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	I can't believe nobody has responded to this post even if just to say what a beautiful shield. It sure is a purty thang. I agree completely there is a ton of symbolism in this shield and hopefully look forward to additional comments/thoughts about that

23rd October 2014, 11:41 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	I will hazard a guess, having seen this in hand. These animals on one level seem to be animals seen on a hunt, which was a popular thing back then. Perhaps a sign of manhood, skill, and warriorship?

25th October 2014, 03:39 PM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE ANIMALS REPRESENTED SEEM TO BE LEOPARD, JACKAL, RABBIT, BLACKBUCK AND HUNTING DOG. IT LOOKS LIKE A LEOPARD HAS CAUGHT A BLACKBUCK. NO TIGERS OR ELEPHANTS AS OFTEN SEEN IN INDIAN DESIGNS ESPECIALLY THOSE TELLING OF ROYAL TIGER HUNTS. BEAUTIFUL WORKMANSHIP AND PERHAPS IT DOES TELL A STORY? BUT I WOULD GUESS IT WAS MADE FOR SHOW NOT FOR ACTUAL USE. NO DOUBT THE SNAKE SYMBOLIZES SOMETHING AS WELL IF THERE IS A STORY BEING TOLD BUT IT MAY JUST BE A PRETTY DESIGN WITH ANIMALS RUNNING ON A FLORAL BACK GROUND, A BEAUTIFUL ITEM EITHER WAY.