Showcase 26. Iran weapons of the XVIth to XVIIth centuries

The collection of Iranian arming contains articles by craftsmen of the Safavid period, which gave way to a flowering of culture, economy, applied art and jewellery-making in particular. The establishment of national and political unity in Iran, and consecutive conquests during the Safavid dynasty, especially those of Shah Abbas, led to the compilation of a priceless treasury of gems and jewels. Various types and forms of Iran weapons and armour were developed and improved, i.e. sabres, shields, daggers, broadswords. Cold steel of the damask steel was richly decorated with all types of artistic metalworking and inlaid with precious stones. Besides remarkable fighting qualities Iranian arming possessed an interesting system of ornamentation and decor.

The XVIth-century shield of Iranian workmanship which belonged to F. Mstislavsky is remarkable for its fine artistic qualities. The shield is forged from a single sheet of damask steel and decorated with pear-like shapes, alternately damascened with gold and adorned with figurative ornament. The top of the shield has three strips filled with images of fighting animals over the background of a floral pattern; three strips contain an ornament of clouds typical of Iranian art, and the other two are decorated with floral motifs usual for the XVIth century. Representations of the people and animals, as well as the ornament between them precisely carved with a graver and inlaid with gold of two colours can be called characteristics of iconography of the Iranian applied art.