Purchase this volume at Oxbow Books
|
|
David Alexander
The arms and armour in the Khalili Collection range in date from
the 7th to the 19th centuries. Particularly important, however,
are a group of belt fittings from the medieval period which convey
the role of ceremony among the military classes of the Islamic world.
Display was also a major factor behind the creation of the two sets
of elaborate horse trappings from the 13th and 14th centuries, one
of which includes a complete gold saddle.
Among the most dramatic items is a 15th-century steel war mask which
still inspires a sense of awe, and the impressive array of horse
chamfrons includes the only known example from Sultanate India.
The descriptions are supplemented by a section on the inscriptions
and drawings of details and arsenal marks.
The presentation avoids the strictly typological classification
of most previous works on the subject, and aims to give a full sense
of the panoply of warfare: the stirrup, the drum, the talismanic
shirt and the banner were as important to the Muslim warrior as
the sword and the mail shirt.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Alexander was formerly Research Associate at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York; he is a leading authority on Islamic arms
and armour, and has co-authored the catalogue of Islamic swords
at the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul.
DETAILS
240 pages; fully illustrated in colour; line drawings; section
on documentary inscriptions
35.5 x 25.5 cm
hardback with dust jacket (slipcased)
1992
1-874780-61-7
£89 $180
Back to listing
|
