Kalkans (Round Turkish Shields)

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:36 pm

Here's a page on Turkish kalkans that might interest some of you. It is by no means complete, and some of the images, I've gleaned from a variety of sources. I have started making a couple of them, but never finished them. This page shows some of my research and I hope to augment it over time.

Baron Alejandro · Post by **Baron Alejandro** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:33 am

COOL!

Wil · Post by **Wil** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:07 am

Very cool. Any chance you could make those lil' pics into clickable thumbnails linked to larger images?

~Wil

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:39 am

Ron, I was at the Ottoman exhibition in DC last week, and saw one of these suckers up-close... the weave was a separate layer attached to the woven reads. Now that was cloth-of-gold, so you know, a ceremonial shield, but it sure looked like the decoration was simply a cloth layer added securely to the wickering.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:26 pm

Baron, I thought I'd like that.

Wil, the thumbnails are clickable. I started with bigger images, but I had to shrink them down. If one is of particular interest, I can get you my full size image (if I scanned it)

Russ, You lucky dog. I just ordered the books but I don't think I'll make it to Style & Status (MLK Day weekend is an outside chance). I'd love to compare that kalkan with the ones I've seen up close. The problem with the Topkapi stuff is that it is often the Imperial stuff. The munitions grade ones are war trophies and are scattered through Europe.

Fearghus Macildubh · Post by **Fearghus Macildubh** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:21 am

Ron,
I've seen some of the war trophy ones up close. Most German and Austrian castles have some stuff taken from the battles with the Ottomans.
Ambras in Innsbruck had a bunch in particular. here's some so-so pics.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lescot87/ ... /my_photos
Don't let the armoured giant and ranks of pikemen throw you, I didn get some Ottoman stuff.
Let me check the Ambras book I have to see if I can scan some good ones.

olivier · Post by **olivier** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:52 pm

I want to say that the one on display in the Smithsonian exhibit is this one:
http://r.jachim.home.comcast.net/images ... an-104.jpg
or very close to it (hard to tell as the underside of the shield, showing the decorative lining, was the 'spotlight' side). If I am remembering incorrectly forgive me!

Amaris10 · Post by **Amaris10** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 12:44 am

I was drinking toooooo much coffee and key worded "troops".

I got this from the British Library:

http://www.imagesonline.bl.uk/britishli ... ht=2&idx=2

I found other miniatures with shield failure here, too. But, the poor guy with the "Aw Shit!", trying to block the sword blow with his shield in the middle, takes the cake.

Sword goes right through,.....everything.

Ouch.

Amaris

PS there's a guy here too. In the middle,.... ouch.

http://www.imagesonline.bl.uk/britishli ... ht=2&idx=2