Arm Guard (Dastana)
This type of arm guard, known as a dastana, was used throughout Turkey, Iran, and India. Its curved plate protected the outside of the forearm and is connected to a pair of shorter plates that guarded the inside of the wrist. The inscriptions on this example are incorporated into the gold decoration and the nail-head design on the mitten and include Qur’anic verses and the popular Shi‘i prayer Nad-i ‘Ali (Call upon ‘Ali).
Artwork Details
- Title: Arm Guard (Dastana)
- Date: 18th century
- Culture: Indian
- Medium: Steel, gold, textile (velvet), textile (silk), textile (linen), copper alloy
- Dimensions: L. 21 in. (53.3 cm); W. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
- Classification: Armor Parts
- Credit Line: Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
- Object Number: 36.25.399
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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