Item: ea490

Extremely Rare 17th C. Polish Tatar Hungarian Kalkan Shield

    Description

    A truly wonderful piece. One of the rarest examples of an eastern European shield, and of great age as well. This is a presentation example of a Polish- Hungarian shield in the Ottoman-Tatar style that was popular at the tail end of the 17th C. following the Polish repulsion of the Turk at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. This shield is truly wonderful work of art with a variety of excellent techniques employed. The shield is of two parts. The first layer is a captured Islamic, likely Turkish or possibly Russian shield, certainly 17th C.. Over the steel shield, are overlaid numerous gilded brass bosses inlaid with turquoise and a type of green enamel that is very light on the surface but has precedent in Polish karabela swords of the same period (see last two pictures for illustrations from Dziewulski's 2007 presentation in Timonium Maryland for swords from the National Museum at Krakow). The overall decoration points towards Polish but also possibly Hungarian origin however the superb quality of the work which has survived in fine condition is a testament to the high rank of the person to whom this belonged. A truly magnificent example that we will be happy to keep in our collection, but offer to our fellow collectors. Diameter 17, weighs 2.5 lbs. Very substantial example of size and heft. PRICE ON REQUEST