A LEATHER AND STEEL WARRIOR BELT WITH STEEL HOOKS, GUNPOWDER FLASK, TOOLS CASE AND MATTOCK
Iran, 17th - 18th century

Of typical shape, the warrior belt with a rectangular steel belt buckle engraved with a triangular fretwork band around the edges and beaded motif in the centre, featuring in its length a variety of armourial tools and accessories to be used at war including two steel belt hooks with typical U-shape, one with pierced decoration and frilled edges on the top plaque, the latter plain except for an X engraved in the centre; a gourd-shaped copper and brass-inlaid gunpowder flask, with stylised rosette medallions on the front and a square hinged lid at the top; a portable steel mattock, with the typical crescentic edge, engraved with stars and poles with roundels on both sides, with indented serrate profiles on the edge and handles; and a rectangular tools leather case, tooled, sawn, and enhanced with typical Safavid steel (pulad) plaques in the shape of arabesque medallions, roundels, cloud bands, and further geometric forms, the set a unique and rare witness of the art of war in the Safavid times, the belt 84cm long, the case 17.5cm x 15cm.