Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour: A Lifetime’s Passion

Praise for the Book

'As a source of images of the finest Asian weapons, this book is unrivalled and will be an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the subject in the future'

THOM RICHARDSON, former Keeper of Armour and Oriental Collections, Royal Armouries, Leeds

'… the first book to document such a rich field'

The Times

'… the most important book to have been published on this neglected subject in recent years'

Classic Arms & Militaria Magazine

'… the dangers and difficulties, the thrilling anecdotes and amusing asides that make dealing exciting. We have all seen Indiana Jones: this is not totally dissimilar'

Asian Art Newspaper

About the Book

Featuring over 1,000 illustrations of some of the finest Islamic and Oriental arms and armour that have passed through the hands of the renowned dealer Robert Hales during the last half-century, this book represents the finest and most interesting examples originating from Islamic, Hindu and Sikh cultures and beyond, including Russia, China, Tibet, Mongolia, Korea and South-East Asia.

Divided into four sections – daggers, swords, firearms and armour – the book showcases weapons originating from a vast geographical area in a wide range of styles. The skilled master craftsman from the court workshop, with access to the most expensive and precious materials, inevitably produced some of the most exquisite examples of Islamic and Oriental art. Those that were never used in anger were primarily worn to show the wealth and status of the owner. Due to the historical Anglo-Indian connection, a significant amount of Indian material found its way to Britain and hence into the stock of the author, giving rise to a preponderance of Indian weapons presented in the book.

Accompanying this rich and extensive archive of illustrations, most of which are being published for the first time, is a concise and descriptive text supported with a useful glossary of terms.

About the Author

ROBERT HALES bought his first antique weapon in Kabul in 1966 when, at the age of 21, he travelled overland to Nepal through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan through India to Kathmandu, where he also acquired antiques from Tibetan refugees. By the time he returned to London (travelling south through Baluchistan, Southern Iran and on to the Middle East, Jerusalem and Petra), his course was set. The passion for antique weaponry took over Hales’ life and within a year he had jettisoned his job as a fledgling microbiologist to begin a career specialising in antique Islamic and Oriental arms and armour.

Robert became a highly respected dealer with a gallery on Kensington Church Street, London, for nearly thirty years. He has supplied many of the world’s leading museums and collections with some of the finest items to surface on the market. Robert continues to pursue his interests with an undiminished enthusiasm. As his life-long friend and fellow-enthusiast for antique weapons, Jonathan Barrett, says in his foreword: ‘Bob was fortunate to have been active during a period of relatively plentiful supply; a time that we are unlikely to see again.’

Publisher: Presented on behalf of Robert Hales (C.I.) Limited
Publication Date: 7 January 2023 (originally released 4 October 2013)
ISBN: 9780992631505