Flail: O.159-1879

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

• Flail
• Indian weapons

Categories

• Weapons

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

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.