The Armoured Elephant Keyring is inspired by the remarkable Elephant Armour on display at Royal Armouries Leeds. It is the only example of an almost complete, all-metal elephant armour in any public collection in the world. War elephants often formed the shock troops of South Asian armies. During battles, they were both powerful fighting animals and intimidating mobile vantage points. Accounts from the 15th and 16th centuries mention charging war elephants wearing tusk swords whilst ravaging enemies on the battlefield or battering for defences.
