A rare Ottoman painted wicker shield (kalkan), Turkey, second half 17th century

the wicker body of domed circular form mounted with a metal umbo in the centre, decorated with red and cream pigment with stylised foliate and geometric motifs, pierced with ten rivets with flattened heads visible from the front and loops to the reverse with attached plated leather straps, reverse lined with green linen

ex-European aristocratic collection, taken as booty from the Ottoman army at the second seige of Vienna in 1683

painted decoration somewhat faded, knocks to extremities, some wear and tear consistent with age, overall good condition, as viewed
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This shield is from a rare group, many of which were captured during the second Ottoman seige of Vienna in 1683. Similar examples are illustrated in War & Peace, Istanbul 1999, pp.185-186, nos.86 and 87 and Die Karlsruher Türkenbeute, Munich 1991, pp.172-178, nos.118-125.

The lighter wicker shield was developed to protect the bearer from attack by archers. The flexibilty of the body absorbed the impact of the arrow which would have pierced more rigid protection. This type of painted shield became emblematic of the Golden Age of the Ottoman Empire. In this symbolic role, these shields were still carried on campaigns in eastern Europe in the later seventeenth century, long past the time when musketry fire had become the favoured weaponry of the enemy (Rogers 1995, p.151).