POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Shield سپر

Object No. A1425

This shield was handcrafted in 19th-century Persia (Iran), probably under the patronage of a Qajar religious family, by one of the master arms makers (selahsaz) from the city of Isfahan, known for the production of this series of crafts since the 15th century. During the Qajar era (1789 -1925) and especially during the reign of King Nasser al-Din (1848-1896), the public rituals and performances related to the martyrdom of the third Shiite Imam (saint), Hoseyn ibn-Ali (626 AD - 680 AD), the Prince of Martyrs, became popular in Iranian society. As a result, a range of handmade ceremonial material culture and ritualistic visual pieties was created, and consequently similar high-quality crafts were adopted for the Persian market. The main body of this polychrome enamel metal shield consists of five smaller metal pieces, enamelled beautifully in green, red and black with 'floral and foliate' motifs (gol-o barg), including Persian paisley (boteh jegheh). The surface of this shield is also engraved with Persian calligraphy, probably poems in praise of Imam Hoseyn, the Prince of Martyrs. Similar to other Qajar metal arms and armour in the Powerhouse collection (H4099, H7905, H6667, H4099-2), this shield was used by male performers for Taziyeh - a type of public religious theatre depicting scenes of the martyrdom of Imam Hoseyn (Seyed al-Shohada), the grandchild of the Prophet Mohammad - during the month of Moharram in Iran. Dr Pedram Khosronejad, Curator of Persian Arts, 2021

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Summary

Object Statement

Shield, metal / enamel / polychrome, Isfahan, Persia (Iran), Qajar era, 1800s

Physical Description

The main body of this polychrome enamel metal shield consists of five smaller metal pieces, enamelled beautifully in green, red and black with 'floral and foliate' motifs (gol-o barg), including Persian paisley (boteh jegheh). The surface of this shield is also engraved with Persian calligraphy, probably poems in praise of Imam Hoseyn, the Prince of Martyrs.

DIMENSIONS

Height

147 mm

Diameter

365 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

This shield was handcrafted in 19th-century Persia (Iran), probably under the patronage of a Qajar religious family, by one of the master arms makers (selahsaz) from the city of Isfahan, known for the production of this series of crafts since the 15th century.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Purchased 1912

Acquisition Date

15 August 1912

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