Armure indienne aux katars

A steel and gilded brass armour, North India, 19th century Partially gilded steel set, consisting of a hemispherical "kulah Khud" helmet with cameo, two "bazu-band" forearms and four curved "chahar-ayneh" breastplate plates, decorated in relief with floral buds and gilded brass "katar" daggers. Condition: Corrosion Dim.: Helmet: 21 x 21 cm. Forearm: 32.5 cm. Breastplate: 31.5 x 25 cm. Provenance : French public auction (Toulouse), former private collection of Monsieur A. From the first half of the 19th century, English-influenced India saw a series of commissions for ceremonial pieces with atypical subjects and forms (see Hermitage Museum inv. nos. BO 1702, BO 5079 and BO 1305). The best Indian masters were determined to make a name for themselves outside their own borders, drawing as much on Indian (Mughal) iconographic models as on European ones. This suit of armour features an astonishing iconography of Indian 'katar' daggers. On the helmet, a series of katar intertwined with flowers on the border converge towards the central point. On the front, two pen holders with aigrettes or peacock feathers enhance the aesthetics of the headdress. The breastplate and forearms are also embellished with katars and scalloped flowers. Rectangular brass buckles without barbs are crimped where needed to join the four plates of the breastplate with leather straps. It is likely that this prestigious suit of armour was commissioned to complete a sophisticated collection that was very popular with European intellectuals, such as the Henri Moser (1844-1923) collection or the William Ockelford Oldman (1879-1949) collection.