Day 139 - Shah Jahan's chain mail
March 26, 2019
It took me only a day to understand the allure of this stuff. Gallery 371, which Mayor Bloomberg donated to the Met and named in honor of his daughters, is an enormous, light-filled space filled with display cases containing mannequins clad in suits of armor, along with a variety of weapons (axes, halberds, etc.). Four huge model horses in the center of the room are also fully outfitted in armor.
A number of things impress. First is the fine workmanship and elaborate decoration of so many pieces; decorative motifs include, among other things, allegorical figures, putti, coats of arms, twining vines, and, in one case, the Madonna holding the Christ child on her lap. I don't think I'd ever paid much attention to the beauty of these objects before. Second, many of the signs tell the weight of the armor -- generally upwards of 45 pounds, and in one case 90 pounds! I can only imagine how strong men must have been to be able to wear these things whether for ceremonial occasions, jousting, or warfare. Third are the technological innovations, and the thoughtfulness behind some of the designs. For example, one suit, according to the placard, was used for jousts in which the mounted combatants rode at each other, each passing the other on his left side; accordingly, the left sides of their breastplates were reinforcesd. Fourth, there's the familiar identity of some of the owners. -- particularly, two suits of armor made for Henry VIII! One was made in France in 1527, when he was still relatively trim, the other in Italy 17 years later, when he was vastly overweight. I had seen comparable "thin and fat" armor belonging to Henry in the Tower of London museum, but it's remarkable that we have two sets here in New York as well. Finally, the displays allow me to imagine, in a way I hadn't previously, how magnificent warrior-princes -- condottieri like Federico di Montefeltro -- must have looked as they led their troops into battle.
Most of the armor is from Germany, England, or Italy. But today's object, which stops me in my tracks, is an India-made chain mail "shirt" that is likely to have belonged to Shah Jahan! Dating to 1632-33 (actually, some 10 years before his reign began), it is made of steel, iron, gold, and leather and is perhaps 39 inches long (so presumably might have reached to his knees). Its most notable feature consists of the two gold leaf breastplates, which are beautifully decorated with floral designs and Arabic inscriptions from the Koran. (When I begin to look at works in the Islamic galleries, I'll have to decide whether to spell it "Koran" or "Qu'ran.") Four narrow gold strips also adorn the sides and back of the garment. The sign says that the mail rings in the upper part of the garment are stamped with Arabic inscriptions bearing the 99 names/attributes of Allah, such as "The Most Holy" and "Source of Peace," with four or five names inscribed on each ring, although these inscriptions are too tiny for me to see.
I'm just stunned to see this work in this incredibly rich collection. And as I exit these galleries, my eye is caught by a beautiful Japanese suit of armor. What a privilege it is to have the Met almost in my back yard!
A number of things impress. First is the fine workmanship and elaborate decoration of so many pieces; decorative motifs include, among other things, allegorical figures, putti, coats of arms, twining vines, and, in one case, the Madonna holding the Christ child on her lap. I don't think I'd ever paid much attention to the beauty of these objects before. Second, many of the signs tell the weight of the armor -- generally upwards of 45 pounds, and in one case 90 pounds! I can only imagine how strong men must have been to be able to wear these things whether for ceremonial occasions, jousting, or warfare. Third are the technological innovations, and the thoughtfulness behind some of the designs. For example, one suit, according to the placard, was used for jousts in which the mounted combatants rode at each other, each passing the other on his left side; accordingly, the left sides of their breastplates were reinforcesd. Fourth, there's the familiar identity of some of the owners. -- particularly, two suits of armor made for Henry VIII! One was made in France in 1527, when he was still relatively trim, the other in Italy 17 years later, when he was vastly overweight. I had seen comparable "thin and fat" armor belonging to Henry in the Tower of London museum, but it's remarkable that we have two sets here in New York as well. Finally, the displays allow me to imagine, in a way I hadn't previously, how magnificent warrior-princes -- condottieri like Federico di Montefeltro -- must have looked as they led their troops into battle.
Most of the armor is from Germany, England, or Italy. But today's object, which stops me in my tracks, is an India-made chain mail "shirt" that is likely to have belonged to Shah Jahan! Dating to 1632-33 (actually, some 10 years before his reign began), it is made of steel, iron, gold, and leather and is perhaps 39 inches long (so presumably might have reached to his knees). Its most notable feature consists of the two gold leaf breastplates, which are beautifully decorated with floral designs and Arabic inscriptions from the Koran. (When I begin to look at works in the Islamic galleries, I'll have to decide whether to spell it "Koran" or "Qu'ran.") Four narrow gold strips also adorn the sides and back of the garment. The sign says that the mail rings in the upper part of the garment are stamped with Arabic inscriptions bearing the 99 names/attributes of Allah, such as "The Most Holy" and "Source of Peace," with four or five names inscribed on each ring, although these inscriptions are too tiny for me to see.
I'm just stunned to see this work in this incredibly rich collection. And as I exit these galleries, my eye is caught by a beautiful Japanese suit of armor. What a privilege it is to have the Met almost in my back yard!
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