OTTOMAN PARRYING SHIELD KALKAN, 16th-17th CENTURY

The kalkan is a marvel of ingenuity which combines rigidity with resilience. The iron frame with its radial bars can intercept and momentarily capture an opponent’s blade, rendering the strike ineffective, while the coiled wood and cord body absorbs attacking blows. The slightly canted umbo provides solid protection for the hand. Gripped in the left hand, it is the single defense against a sword blow delivered by a skilled cavalryman. Properly executed, the defense required skill and practice to receive the impact squarely and engage the blade. An improperly executed defense could result in the shield being wrenched from the hand or compromising the grip, enabling the success of the next blow. This example may well have been part of the booty captured after the route of Ottoman forces at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, or in fact, could have served at the 1529 Ottoman Siege of Vienna as well. 10 7/8" diameter. Very rare.