alb3684321

Mace (Gada)

Mace (Gada). Culture: Indo-Persian. Dimensions: L. 26 in. (66 cm); wt. 7 lb 0.7 oz (3.194 g). Date: 17th century.
This mace, or gada, is extremely top-heavy, so much that it would be impossible to use effectively as a weapon. It is perfectly weighted, however, for gada-yuddha, or mace training, a form of exercise and a martial art known in India for centuries and still practiced there today. Its beautiful workmanship and lavish decoration would have made it a fine training implement for a Hindu prince. Compare this mace, weighing just over 7 pounds, with another mace in the collection (36.25.1874), which is very similar in form, decoration, and size, but is evenly balanced and weighs less than 3 pounds.
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Title:
Mace (Gada)
Caption:
Mace (Gada). Culture: Indo-Persian. Dimensions: L. 26 in. (66 cm); wt. 7 lb 0.7 oz (3.194 g). Date: 17th century. This mace, or gada, is extremely top-heavy, so much that it would be impossible to use effectively as a weapon. It is perfectly weighted, however, for gada-yuddha, or mace training, a form of exercise and a martial art known in India for centuries and still practiced there today. Its beautiful workmanship and lavish decoration would have made it a fine training implement for a Hindu prince. Compare this mace, weighing just over 7 pounds, with another mace in the collection (36.25.1874), which is very similar in form, decoration, and size, but is evenly balanced and weighs less than 3 pounds.
Technique/material:
Steel, gold
Museum:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Credit:
Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?
Image size:
4400 x 2323 px | 29.2 MB
Print size:
37.3 x 19.7 cm | 14.7 x 7.7 in (300 dpi)