Maker: Unknown
Of iron, comprising a short, square section haft decorated with a geometrical diaper of dots and incised lozenges, with a finial at the base and a loop at the top to which are attached by a ring double chains, each link of long figure-8 form, joined in a ring at the end to which is attached an onion-shaped head decorated with radial incised lines and with a short pierced neck below. Polished bright but pitted heavily from earlier corrosion, and most of the decoration worn away by cleaning
Given by Robert Taylor, MA
Length: 71.5 cm
Weight: 51.5 cm
Method of acquisition: Given (1879) by Taylor, Robert, MA
17th Century#
Circa
1600
CE
-
1700
CE
A triple flail from Bikanir survives, or similar general form, which may be the one illustrated in the Bijapur Nujum al-‘Ulum of 1570 in the Chester Beatty Library, called there vajramushti or kiptan (Elgood 2004: 189, 214). A double flail from Lahore is preserved in the Royal Armouries, XXVIC.??. Cambridge 1879 no. 129; Taylor commented ‘Mace, compare the ‘morning stars’ of the old city watch, and the Protestant flail.’
Although often thought to be a European weapon there is almost no evidence for their use in the west. However the flail was used in India although few have survived.
Accession number: O.159-1879
Primary reference Number: 159938
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Flail" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/159938 Accessed: 2024-12-23 06:44:57
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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/159938
|title=Flail
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 06:44:57|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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