Mace (Gada)

Unknown

17th century · Steel, gold · Arms and Armor

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.

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th century

Medium

Steel, gold

Culture

Indo-Persian

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Gift of Christian A. Zabriskie, 1936