National Museum, New Delhi

Jatan
Collection
Collection Beyond Galleries
Curatorial Corner
- Curator’s corner
- Conservator’s corner

Arms and Armour

Arms and Armour Collection

Since the time of Pre-History to Present, Self-preservation, protection and war have always been an inseparable part of human society. Due to these factors, Arms, as well as Armors, became part of the society. National Museum has an extensive collection of Arms and Armors. From this collection, quite a few examples of Indian weapons like different variety of bows, Variety of daggers, shields, helmets, back and foot armors, armors for protection of animals which were used in battles, swords such as the personal sword of Emperor Aurangzeb, firearms and gunpowder flask etc. ranging from the Pre-history period up to the 19th century, have been exhibited in the “Arms and Armors” Gallery of National Museum.

Arms and Armour Collection

Sword of Tipu Sultan 56.17/1 Metal, Wood, Velvet Mysore, 1799 C.E Lt. 74.1 cm This sword belonged to Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore. The Delhishahi hilt damascened in gold. The Delhishahi hilt with its circular disc pommel, oval grip, small knuckle-guard, short quillons and small langets, is damascened in gold in floral and creeper design all over. The blade is ornamented with floral motifs in opulent gold, and has Quranic verses inscribed along with name of Tipu Sultan Bahadur and his capital Serirangapatnam. The sheath is made of wood and covered with maroon velvet.

Arms and Armour Collection

Battle Axe of Nadir Shah 58.47/3 Metal Indo- Persian, 1739 C.E Lt. 52 cm The battle-axe of Nadir Shah is a noteworthy specimen. It is inscribed with Quranic verses and ‘SahibeQiran Nadir’ in Arabic. The axe head is profusely decorated with gold and silver inscriptions. The octagonal handle is profusely decorated with floral designs in gold and silver.

Arms and Armour Collection

Dagger 59.1/2 Leather, Metal Udaipur, 17th Century C.E Lt. 40.1 cm The artefact is a dagger with a moderate curve, with a plain blade;the ram-shaped hilt is profusely studded with lusterous precious stones like rubies, emeralds and other precious stones. Quite similar to the peshkabz, that is of Persian origin introduced in India by Mughals. The sheath of metal is perforated with the images of gods and goddesses. The upper part and chape of the sheath are enamelled. The sheath of metal is delicately perforated with images of birds, animals and creeper delineation.

Arms and Armour Collection

Gun Powder 61.66 Mother of pearls, iron Gujarat, 17th Century C.E Lt. 14.5 cm Conch-shell shaped curved gun powder container is made of the mother of pearls. It is decorated all over with cross design and five dots in each square. The cap is broken. A small iron chain is affixed to it.

Arms and Armour Collection

Shield of Maharana Sangram Singh 62.2879 Udaipur, c.1840 C.E Lt. 62.5 cm This shield (dhal) belonged to Maharana Sangram Singh II of Mewar who ruled from C.E. 1710 to 1734. The shield is made of rhinoceros hide. It has been lacquered black and painted in brilliant gold in C.E. 1730, quite similar to the miniature painting of Mewar school of painting. The painting done on the shield consists of only three colors- lac red, carbon black and gold. The painting is divided into eight sections illustrating the Maharana marching with retinue and deer, etc.

Arms and Armour Collection

Hilt 62.2936 Jade, Semi-precious stone Mughal (Delhi), Early 17th Century C.E Lt. 12.6 cm The jade hilt, probably part of a dagger,is studded with diamonds and rubies in gold border, designed as floral stems. The daggers with such carved jade hilts were worn and exchanged as gifts among the royal and noblemen within the Mughal empire and its neighbouring courts.

Arms and Armour Collection

Chest-Plate (Char-aina) 63.526 Steel Rajasthan, 18th Century C.E Lt. 85.3 cm, W. 17.4 cm This body armor is made of six steel plates a back plate, three front plates and two-side plates hinged together. The two plates on the sides have under-cut on upper edge for the armpit. Five hooks are contoured on the end plates. The edges of all the plates are strengthened with additional serrated border. The borders have Devanagari script inscribed on it. The body armor has the name of the armor maker Sita Ram given on it.

Arms and Armour Collection

Sword 75.672 Steel, Wood Jaipur, 18th Century C.E Lt. 49.5 cm Nimiachau-1- shamsheer i.e. Small slightly curved sword of watered steel blade. The hilt, decorated in floral design in gold terminates into a tiger killing a deer which also becomes the knuckle-guard. The wooden sheath is covered with perforated metal in floral motifs with attached two bands and two rings.

Arms and Armour Collection

Helmet 96.216 Steel, gold, Hyderabad, 19th Century C.E Ht.52 cm, Dia. 20.7 cm The hemispherical helmet made of four pieces of steel soldered. It is surmounted by a plume-holder and a movable nasal-guard with leaf-shaped terminals. The entire helmet is profusely inlaid with gold in creeper, birds and geometrical patterns in zar-band. Arabic characters are encased in ornamental frames arranged at two levels upper and lower. The helmet also consists of a camail for the protection of shoulder and neck.

Arms and Armour Collection

Shield 96.338 Steel, Cloth Dia. 54 cm This circular convex shield of watered shield made of two sheets has up turned rim. The outer rim has twelve windows in the shape of leaf. The shield is profusely inlaid with gold in floral, birds, creeper and geometrical patterns in zarbuland, with Arabic characters inlaid with gold in the centre of each window. The four bosses with serrated borders are affixed between four windows. The rim gives an effect of light and shade- it is inlaid with gold alloy.

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Art and Research

Arms and Armour

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection

Arms and Armour Collection