Shield of Maharana Sangram Singh II

Personal shield belongs to Maharana Sangram Singh II of Mewar who ruled from A.D. 1710 to 1734. The inscription reads: Maharano Sangram Singhji in Devanagari above the portrait of the prince. Names of three fief-holders (thikanedars) of Mewar, namely Salumbara, Kanodha and Badanora, are given below. The shield depicts one of the actual hunting expeditions of the Maharana. The dhal or shield is made of rhinoceros hide, lacquered black and painted in brilliant gold in A.D. 1730, in Mewar style of painting identical of the contemporary miniature painting on paper of this school. It is divided into eight sections of wavy shape. The scenes illustrated on it show the Maharana marching with retinue and deer, etc. The last scene shows him returning on the back of an elephant to his palace. Only three] colours, lacquer red, carbon black and gold, have been used to beautify this shield. The central medallion represented sun god rays emanating from a human face. It is also an insignia of Mewar royal family .