{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O482054"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O482054/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MP4292/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MP4292/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MP4292","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O482054/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O482054","accessionNumber":"571-1884","objectType":"Shield","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<i>kalkan</i>or <i>phari</i> shields appeared in Persia and Turkey in the thirteenth century. From there they spead into the Indian sub-continent. They were convex and constructed of concentrically arranged cane rods tightly bound with silk thread. A central domed metal boss protected the handgrip. They were commonly depicted in Mughal miniatures and remained popular until the 18th century. A large part of the success of the design was the the light, spring-like construction. This not only made it ideal for use by cavalry, but enabled it to deform when struck absorbing the energy and deflecting blows. The silk whipping also lent itself to almost limitless decorative schemes.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Reed tightly wrapped in coloured silk","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MP4292"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"DU001","id":"THES389783"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Shield","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"17th century","earliest":"1600-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased from Sidney Churchill","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"In the 1884 inventory, \"Arab\" is struck off and replaced with \"Mogul\" in pencil. <i>List of Objects in the Art Division, South  Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1884</i>, London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1885.\r\n\r\nPurchased (source not recorded). This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Shield <i>kalkan</i> reed wrapped in silk, Iran, 17th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["571-1884"],"accessionNumberNum":"571","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1884,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-09","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}