An Indian mail coat, Deccan, 17th century

An Indian mail coat, Deccan, 17th centuryThe hip-length coat of mail made of riveted rings, with a short back slit and long sleeves. Three fish-shaped buckles are riveted onto the two large, integrated plates in the chest area. Two narrower plates attached at each of the sides, followed by three rows of overlapping discs on the back. The inside of the right breastplate bearing a two-line inscription in Hindi, engraved with "Darvish Sahib" in Devanagari script on the outside. The chain mail without any visible defects, the plates somewhat patinated and filmed with rust in places on the inside. Height circa 73 cm, weight 9.6 kg.There are two, very similar mail coats in the Khalili Collection (Alexander 1992, page 160, no. 100) and in Ricketts and Missilier, Paris 1988, page 85, no. 141, both of which are signed "Darvish Sahib".Condition: II