Mughal soldiers wore hemispherical steel helmets to battle. This helmet’s surface features decorative floral patterns created using a process called damascening, in which gold wire was hammered into steel grooves. A leaf-shaped guard slides down in front of the nose for protection. The short tubes on either side of the nasal guard were for holding plumes, most popularly black heron feathers or white aigrettes. The spike that would have been on the apex has broken off. Also missing is the stuffed cotton padding that lined the interior. Chain mail made up of interlocking steel wire rings protected the ears, neck, and shoulders.
Details
- Title: Helmet
- Date Created: 1600s
- Physical Dimensions: Overall: 9.6 cm (3 3/4 in.); Diameter: 20.7 cm (8 1/8 in.)
- Provenance: Theodore Offerman [c. 1873–1937], New York, NY, consigned to the American Art Association for sale, (American Art Association, New York, NY, Theodore Offerman Collection sale, February 8, 1919, lot no. 300), John L. [1863–1936] and Elisabeth Huntington DeWitt Severance [1865–1929], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Type: Arms and Armor
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1919.62
- Medium: steel with gold and brass
- Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Culture: North India
- Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
- Collection: Indian Art
- Accession Number: 1919.62
Get the app
Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.