Indian Mail and Plate Shirt, Deccani, 17th C

Description

Alternating solid and riveted rings of varying sizes, comprising thigh-length shirt with
forearm-length sleeves. Front-opening; featuring four breast plates (one broken, but
complete) with riveted bars of floret shape, mounting buckles for laces. Two narrower
plates beneath each armpit. The back features three rows of rectangular plates, the central
row with scalloped bottom edges. Rust patinated overall with some broken and missing
rings, old repairs, and breaks to plate edges. This shirt is part of a large group of similar
shirts that were captured by Anup Singh, Maharajah of Bikaner after the siege of the Adoni
Fortress in 1689.