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Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > Islamic Mail armor Reply to topic
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Alina Boyden





Joined: 19 Apr 2004

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PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 7:24 pm    Post subject: Islamic Mail armor         Reply with quote

Some really interesting stuff here. Again, this is either from Treasures of the Islamic World or The Arts of War.

Firstly is an Iranian talismanic mail shirt, one of only a handful that are known in the world. Talismanic shirts in Islam are shirts with different phrases or names on them for luck. This mail shirt has the names Allah, Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Husayn, pressed into each individual ring.

This second picture is a detail of the rings from the above shirt.

The third picture is a 15th century iranian mail shirt

Here is a different 15th century mail shirt from Iran

Finally, a 15th century Ottoman mail shirt.


Last edited by Alina Boyden on Fri 06 May, 2005 5:25 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Allan Senefelder
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Location: Upstate NY
Joined: 18 Oct 2003

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PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 7:50 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Theres a shirt in Higgins very similar to the first one though if I remember right its Egyptian. I like maille and plates a great deal . Used to own quite alot of it. Theres something of an organic quality to it that i've always been fascinated with. It seems less contrived, more "slinky" than plate armour in appearence. Again nice pics!
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Alina Boyden





Joined: 19 Apr 2004

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PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 7:55 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Allan Senefelder wrote:
Theres a shirt in Higgins very similar to the first one though if I remember right its Egyptian. I like maille and plates a great deal . Used to own quite alot of it. Theres something of an organic quality to it that i've always been fascinated with. It seems less contrived, more "slinky" than plate armour in appearence. Again nice pics!


Slinky? Now I will forever associate 16th century Ottoman armor with women's underwear. Blush
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Nate C.




Location: Palo Alto, CA
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PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 8:36 pm    Post subject: Re: Islamic Mail armor         Reply with quote

Alina Boyden wrote:
.... Talismanic shirts in Islam are shirts with different phrases or names on them for luck. This mail shirt has the names Allah, Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Husayn, pressed into each individual ring....


Oh, wow. Eek!

Nate C.

Sapere Aude
"If you are going to kill the man, at least give him a decent salute." - A. Blansitt

If they ever come up with a Swashbuckling School, I think one of the courses should be Laughing, then Jumping Off Something. --Jack Handy
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Alina Boyden





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PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 8:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Islamic Mail armor         Reply with quote

Nate C. wrote:
Alina Boyden wrote:
.... Talismanic shirts in Islam are shirts with different phrases or names on them for luck. This mail shirt has the names Allah, Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Husayn, pressed into each individual ring....


Oh, wow. Eek!


Sorry that it's so hard to see even on the ring detail pic.
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Aaron Schnatterly




Location: New Glarus, WI
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PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 9:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Islamic Mail armor         Reply with quote

Alina Boyden wrote:
.... Talismanic shirts in Islam are shirts with different phrases or names on them for luck. This mail shirt has the names Allah, Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Husayn, pressed into each individual ring....

Sorry that it's so hard to see even on the ring detail pic.


I tried to make it out, but can't very well. I'm guessing that the method was akin to striking a coin - would accomplish flattening of the ring (if it wasn't already), overlap the ends, flatten the rivet point, and stamp the text all at once. Still an insane amount of work. I'd heard of these talismanic shirts before, but had not seen a picture of one. This, I could recreate, but nobody could afford both it and the therapy I'd need afterwards. Razz

-Aaron Schnatterly
_______________

Fortior Qui Se Vincit
(He is stronger who conquers himself.)
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Alina Boyden





Joined: 19 Apr 2004

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Posts: 383

PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 9:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Islamic Mail armor         Reply with quote

Aaron Schnatterly wrote:
Alina Boyden wrote:
.... Talismanic shirts in Islam are shirts with different phrases or names on them for luck. This mail shirt has the names Allah, Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Husayn, pressed into each individual ring....

Sorry that it's so hard to see even on the ring detail pic.


This, I could recreate, but nobody could afford both it and the therapy I'd need afterwards. Razz


Well for a talismanic mail shirt I'd be tempted to try...
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Bill Grandy
myArmoury Team


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PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 9:53 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The Met in NYC has got a few Islamic armor pieces, including one 19th c. butted shirt that has brass links woven into that spell out the Prayer to Ali, according to the plaque.

Many of my pics from the Met are in the photo albums here.

http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/3439.html

http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/3437.html



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Alina Boyden





Joined: 19 Apr 2004

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PostPosted: Tue 19 Apr, 2005 10:00 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Very nice Bill! Thanks for those pics.
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