Tulwar with Cartouche/Singnature? on Blade

Cathey · 19th July 2021, 07:43 AM

Hi Guys

Back in 2005 I purchased two Tulwars with Hilts decorated in Gold koftigari and plain curved blades, one has a cartouche on the blade and the other an inscription inside the knuckle bow. They have been sitting on the wall totally ignored since we brought them. Yesterday, I decided to take them down along with three other examples I have had since 2002. I have now re-photographed them and thought I should post them one at a time to see if someone can assist me with the correct identification and potentially decipher the scrip on the blade. Sadly the script on this one is impossible for me to read but I hope someone may have seen it before and be able to decipher it.

This Tulwar is 36” 91.4 cm overall, blade 31 ¼” 79.4 cm, blade width 1 4/8” 3.7 cm, inside grip 3” 7.6 cm and weight 0.968 grams.

Any assistance will be much appreciated.

Cheers Cathey

TVV · 20th July 2021, 12:45 AM

Are you absolutely sure the blades are plane, in other words, have you tried cleaning and etching a small window to check for a pattern?

Ian · 20th July 2021, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

Are you absolutely sure the blades are plane, in other words, have you tried cleaning and etching a small window to check for a pattern?

I was thinking the same thing. Your close ups seem to show the hint of a pattern to the steel.

DavidFriedman · 23rd July 2021, 09:22 AM

Gorgeous

Jim McDougall · 23rd July 2021, 06:18 PM

Cathey, this is truly a superb example with the koftgari and profuse botanical decoration in such great condition, as well observed by the others.

Tulwars are not only difficult to accurately identify specifically to geographic regions but to date as the hilt form was used over hundreds of years.
However in this case we can estimate this example as the form typically produced in one of the numerous centers in Rajasthan, and probably 18th century.

In G.N.Pant ("Indian arms & Armor", 1980) the author makes a valiant effort to establish regional and other categories for the various types of tulwar hilts. However these serve best only as identifiers in description for purposes of discussion in my opinion, as typically hilts were produced in these locations in Rajasthan and often sent to other regions for decoration and mounting.

The floral decoration as well as clearly the Islamic detail on the blade establish this to be most certainly a Mughal tulwar. It is quite likely the blade is wootz as suggested, and it would take more detailed examination to determine what is in the cartouches, which follow the style placed on most Islamic blades of this quality and as on Persian examples. It is indeed possible this is a Persian blade as typically present in Mughal courts.

These kinds of Mughal tulwars were prevalent in the northwestern regions and from Rajasthan eastward to Delhi but of course followed the Mughal Sultanates and princely states under that rule. While in some degree they found use in the central 'Deccan' southward in Mughal domains, the tulwar is mostly in my view a weapon of the northern regions.

I wish I could be less vague, but I just wanted to add at least some comment on what is agreed a most beautiful example of the Mughal tulwar.

ariel · 25th July 2021, 04:24 PM

Very good tulwar!

One would definitely wish for such elegant and high class tulwar to have a wootz blade and a cartouche with some famous name, but the previous owner performed a barbaric cleaning operation with the coarsest sandpaper. I cannot see much pitting; likely he removed just old patina. He did not even try to leave the cartouches untouched, this vandal! I hate overeager lovers of everything shiny.

Still, please try to polish a window and etch it.

Unless it was a Sirohi ( which, BTW, was highly esteemed by the contemporaries), you may find ( my guess) Indian “ salt and pepper” wootz.
First, I would polish the spine by the handle to look for the “crack”. It might be filled with some soft metal or left unfilled: in any case it would signify wootz.

Good luck!

19th July 2021, 07:43 AM	#1
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 282	Tulwar with Cartouche/Singnature? on Blade Hi Guys Back in 2005 I purchased two Tulwars with Hilts decorated in Gold koftigari and plain curved blades, one has a cartouche on the blade and the other an inscription inside the knuckle bow. They have been sitting on the wall totally ignored since we brought them. Yesterday, I decided to take them down along with three other examples I have had since 2002. I have now re-photographed them and thought I should post them one at a time to see if someone can assist me with the correct identification and potentially decipher the scrip on the blade. Sadly the script on this one is impossible for me to read but I hope someone may have seen it before and be able to decipher it. This Tulwar is 36” 91.4 cm overall, blade 31 ¼” 79.4 cm, blade width 1 4/8” 3.7 cm, inside grip 3” 7.6 cm and weight 0.968 grams. Any assistance will be much appreciated. Cheers Cathey Attached Images

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20th July 2021, 12:45 AM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,625	Are you absolutely sure the blades are plane, in other words, have you tried cleaning and etching a small window to check for a pattern?

23rd July 2021, 09:22 AM	#4
DavidFriedman Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 113	Gorgeous

23rd July 2021, 06:18 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,957	Cathey, this is truly a superb example with the koftgari and profuse botanical decoration in such great condition, as well observed by the others. Tulwars are not only difficult to accurately identify specifically to geographic regions but to date as the hilt form was used over hundreds of years. However in this case we can estimate this example as the form typically produced in one of the numerous centers in Rajasthan, and probably 18th century. In G.N.Pant ("Indian arms & Armor", 1980) the author makes a valiant effort to establish regional and other categories for the various types of tulwar hilts. However these serve best only as identifiers in description for purposes of discussion in my opinion, as typically hilts were produced in these locations in Rajasthan and often sent to other regions for decoration and mounting. The floral decoration as well as clearly the Islamic detail on the blade establish this to be most certainly a Mughal tulwar. It is quite likely the blade is wootz as suggested, and it would take more detailed examination to determine what is in the cartouches, which follow the style placed on most Islamic blades of this quality and as on Persian examples. It is indeed possible this is a Persian blade as typically present in Mughal courts. These kinds of Mughal tulwars were prevalent in the northwestern regions and from Rajasthan eastward to Delhi but of course followed the Mughal Sultanates and princely states under that rule. While in some degree they found use in the central 'Deccan' southward in Mughal domains, the tulwar is mostly in my view a weapon of the northern regions. I wish I could be less vague, but I just wanted to add at least some comment on what is agreed a most beautiful example of the Mughal tulwar.

25th July 2021, 04:24 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Very good tulwar! One would definitely wish for such elegant and high class tulwar to have a wootz blade and a cartouche with some famous name, but the previous owner performed a barbaric cleaning operation with the coarsest sandpaper. I cannot see much pitting; likely he removed just old patina. He did not even try to leave the cartouches untouched, this vandal! I hate overeager lovers of everything shiny. Still, please try to polish a window and etch it. Unless it was a Sirohi ( which, BTW, was highly esteemed by the contemporaries), you may find ( my guess) Indian “ salt and pepper” wootz. First, I would polish the spine by the handle to look for the “crack”. It might be filled with some soft metal or left unfilled: in any case it would signify wootz. Good luck!