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Frontal Plate from a Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense)

16th–17th century
Not on view
Most of the surviving Tibetan shaffrons are purely functional pieces of armor with minimal, if any, decoration. This outstanding example is one of the few exceptions to that rule. It is made up of two plates from the center of a shaffron, or head defense, that must originally have been part of an extremely elaborate set of horse armor belonging to a high-ranking Tibetan or Mongolian nobleman. It is the only known shaffron decorated in this style, with dragons amid scrollwork pierced, chiseled, and engraved on the thick iron ground and damascened in gold and silver. The same materials, techniques, and motifs are often seen (although usually on a thinner iron ground) on Tibetan saddle plates, ritual objects such as censers, and luxury items such as pen and cup cases and the reinforcing straps found on the entrance doors of important temples and monasteries. The only other known Tibetan shaffron with truly notable decoration (2004.402) is also in the Museum. That piece is worked in a completely different manner, however, with a textile-like pattern in gold and silver damascening on its flat iron plates.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Frontal Plate from a Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense)
  • Date: 16th–17th century
  • Culture: Tibetan
  • Medium: Iron, gold, silver
  • Dimensions: H. 16 1/4 (41.3 cm); W. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 10.3 oz. (745.6 g)
  • Classification: Equestrian Equipment-Shaffrons
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2008
  • Object Number: 2008.291
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Pair of Stirrups (<i>yob</i>), Iron, gold, silver, Tibetan or Mongolian
Pair of Stirrups (yob)
Tibetan or Mongolian
possibly 12th–14th century
Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense), Iron, leather, gold, silver, brass or copper alloy, textile, Tibetan or Mongolian
Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense)
Tibetan or Mongolian
late 15th–early 17th century
Sword (Ral gri), Iron, steel, gold, silver, Tibetan or Chinese
Sword (Ral gri)
Tibetan or Chinese
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Sword Guard, Iron, gold, silver, copper, Tibetan or Chinese
Sword Guard
Tibetan or Chinese
14th–15th century
Equestrian Equipment Made for Yuthok Tashi Dundrup (g.yu thog bkra shis don grub, 1906–1983), Copper alloy, iron, gold, turquoise, wood, leather, textile, Tibetan, Derge
Equestrian Equipment Made for Yuthok Tashi Dundrup (g.yu thog bkra shis don grub, 1906–1983)
Tibetan, Derge
ca. 1943–47

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