Well-executed decorative shield, dhal, from the Jaipur School of Art, made from embossed and parcel gilt copper. The shield is decorated with 4 oval cartouches containing 2 scenes of tigers overcoming animals, and 2 scenes of warriors overcoming tigers; the main body with flowers, foliage and 4 lion’s head bosses.
Such shields were the product of encouragement to manufacture principally for export, and were offered for sale in various exhibitions including the Great Exhibition (Crystal Palace 1851), Jeypore Exhibition (1883), and Indian Art at Delhi (1903). The Jaipur School of Art was awarded First Prize with gold medal for the Copper and Bronze class, and also for the Brass class at the 1903 Delhi Exhibition. Perhaps the most celebrated Jaipur shield maker of the period was Ganga Baksh. See T.H. Hendley “Memorials of the Jaipur Exhibition 1883, Sir G. Watt “Indian Art at Delhi 1903. Being the official catalogue of the Delhi Exhibition, 1902-1903�, Calcutta 1903, and Chandramani Singh (editor) “Treasures of the Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur� Ahmedabad, 2009. Jonathan Barrett. 2014.
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