Chamfron

Location: India

Materials: iron, forged and embossed, with bronze studs

Dimensions: 66.3cm (height)

Accession Number: MTW 1125

Other Notes:

The chamfron, which uniquely retains an ear-guard, is embossed on the forehead with a teardrop-shape terminating in palmettes and stylised brows above the eye-holes. Similar embossed elements also occur on Mamluk, Ottoman and Iranian horse-armour of the 15th and 16th centuries, and their occurrence here doubtless reflects the close connexions of the Indian sultanates with the Turcoman states of western Asia.

Bibliography:

D. Alexander, The Arts of War. Arms and Armour of the 7th to 19th Centuries, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, volume XXI, London 1992, cat.44, pp.92–3.
J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.222, p.187.