The painted face in the central roundel bears comparison to another on a shield in the National Museum of Delhi that is attributed to Maharana Sangram Singh II of Mewar, who ruled from 1710-34.
According to a handwritten note affixed verso, Chiswick’s shield has an Indian Mutiny provenance. The label reads: This dhal (shield) hung in the home of Major CF Bruere at Lucknow during the first days of the Rebellion when the Natives rioted and assaulted the Bruere residence, a faithful Sepoy seized this from the wall to protect Mrs Bruere, stopping a matchlock ball that was mentally aimed.
Charles Fleming Bruère (1812-57) joined the 13th Bengal Native Infantry at Bareilly in 1833 and was promoted to the rank of major in 1855. Most of the 13th Bengal remained loyal during the 1857 mutiny. Several members of the regiment rescued Bruere’s wife and later in the conflict, when Bruere was shot dead on the roof of the Brigade Mess, his native officers and sepoys insisted on carrying his body to the graveyard.
Estimate £3000-5000. The sale is part of Asian Art in London.
