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Flail: O.159-1879

Object information

Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

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

Legal notes

Given by Robert Taylor, MA

Measurements and weight

Length: 71.5 cm
Weight: 51.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1879) by Taylor, Robert, MA

Dating

17th Century#
Circa 1600 CE - 1700 CE

Note

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.

Materials used in production

Iron

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 152
  • Method of creation: Inscribed
  • Type: Tag

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: O.159-1879
Primary reference Number: 159938
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 12 May 2021 Last processed: Thursday 7 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

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

Citation for Wikipedia

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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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