Amazing restoration of an ancient Indian hide Dhal shield
We were sent this Indian hide shield and asked to improve its overall appearance and not deviating from the traditional look & feel. The condition of the shield was quite bad, a lot of the original lacquer had cracked and fallen off and whatever was left also started to flake and do the same. Due to the hide no longer being sealed, you could see the start of warping & deforming. So the first thing we did was to thoroughly clean the shield of any contaminants, oil or grease as this can affect the adhesion of the traditional lacquer. We then conditioned the surface to accept the new lacquer which we prepared using only traditional recipes and methods. We then gradually applied layers of the lacquer onto the surface of the dhal, adjusting the mixture as we applied the lacquer. This helps build that textured feel & look that we usually see with these Dhals. Once we achieved the desired affect while keeping within budget, we made leather straps and a cushion for the rear of the Dhal. The process of restoring a Dhal traditionally can be quite lengthy, but we enjoyed restoring this Dhal to almost its former glory.
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