The Arsenal of Tsarskoe Selo offers the one-piece exhibition "Coat of a Thousand Nails", which will run until 1 October 2021.

The piece on display is the Indian chihal'ta hazar masha armour of the early eighteenth century from the State Hermitage. The armour used to be in the Arsenal's Hall of Knights near the entrance to the Indo-Muslim Room.

One of the oldest body defenses, this so-called "textile armour" from Rajasthan, Northwest India, illustrates one of the most important differences between Eastern and European warriors: maximum maneuverability over absolute security.

The coat, shoulder defenses, hand-guards and greaves are made of layers of coarse cotton, reinforced with steel plates decorated with fine gold koftgari. The deep skirt is divided to the level of the fork to permit riding.

Lots of metal rivets all over the surface explain why this type of armour is called "coat of a thousand nails".

Used also as a ceremonial attire, armour like this was not cheap. It might belong to someone of a high social status, possibly an imperial guard commander.

The armour is presented together with an Indian traditional khanda sword. Such double-edge straight swords had been used as heavy-bladed weapons by both cavalry and infantry since the early Middle Ages.