Remarkable tulwar with unusual provenance

Jim McDougall · 27th February 2024, 06:18 PM

Thanks guys, apparently this art dealer must have the same name but unclear if related. Our Roman Black was born in Poland in 1915 but moved to England in 1939, so doubtful if still surviving. Online it says the location is no longer a gallery but an office for online dealings.

He was a member of the Royal Society of British Artists as well as National Society of Painters and Sculptors, so clearly established in the field.

Unfortunately the name Roman Black online has become 'term oriented' and results, no matter how specifically qualified come back (and not meaning any disrespect or humor) with Blacks in Roman history or Black Italians etc. The term 'black' dominates in every angle as racial, so its application as a surname as far as I could reach is pretty hopeless, especially with Roman attached.
More confusing, the biography on the leaf of the book jacket says he served with French army in WWII, but he was living in England.
He THEN went into British merchant navy on 4 mast sailing ship?

This is a conundrum, but as always, "...curiouser and curiouser" !!

Peter Hudson · 27th February 2024, 10:22 PM

I was very impressed by Matt Eastons description of the Tulwar sword...Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BoKUfaorJ0

Jim McDougall · 29th February 2024, 12:15 AM

Peter, what an outstanding video, and Matt Easton is a great speaker making things so clear, while illustrating with actual examples.

I believe this 'diamond hilt' form is from Udaipur in Rajasthan, probably Rajput, late 18th into 19th c. and the cartouche with lines resembles one on the blade of a Mughal example (Rawson, 1970, plate 44) . While the Mughal hilt does have the turn back swans neck knuckleguard, it does not have the 'sharp' character of this Rajput example.

The florets in the steel decoration, the 'stem' from the pommel disc, the long squarish langet, and unusual discoid quillon terminals all seem to emphasize Rajput, and certainly a high end example.

This deeply inset circular cartouche seems to appear on tulwar blades which do appear to be of Rajasthani type. While this blade has the distinctive 'Indian ricasso' it is nicely curved, and with shamshir character, extremely sharp to very sharp point.

With Matt Eastons demonstration in the video you can see how this tulwar was designed for the draw cut he describes. The 'diamond' grip fits the hand perfectly, with the forefinger wrapped around the quillon, to firmly control the arc of the sword cut.

27th February 2024, 06:18 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	Thanks guys, apparently this art dealer must have the same name but unclear if related. Our Roman Black was born in Poland in 1915 but moved to England in 1939, so doubtful if still surviving. Online it says the location is no longer a gallery but an office for online dealings. He was a member of the Royal Society of British Artists as well as National Society of Painters and Sculptors, so clearly established in the field. Unfortunately the name Roman Black online has become 'term oriented' and results, no matter how specifically qualified come back (and not meaning any disrespect or humor) with Blacks in Roman history or Black Italians etc. The term 'black' dominates in every angle as racial, so its application as a surname as far as I could reach is pretty hopeless, especially with Roman attached. More confusing, the biography on the leaf of the book jacket says he served with French army in WWII, but he was living in England. He THEN went into British merchant navy on 4 mast sailing ship? This is a conundrum, but as always, "...curiouser and curiouser" !!

27th February 2024, 10:22 PM	#2
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	I was very impressed by Matt Eastons description of the Tulwar sword...Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BoKUfaorJ0

29th February 2024, 12:15 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	Peter, what an outstanding video, and Matt Easton is a great speaker making things so clear, while illustrating with actual examples. I believe this 'diamond hilt' form is from Udaipur in Rajasthan, probably Rajput, late 18th into 19th c. and the cartouche with lines resembles one on the blade of a Mughal example (Rawson, 1970, plate 44) . While the Mughal hilt does have the turn back swans neck knuckleguard, it does not have the 'sharp' character of this Rajput example. The florets in the steel decoration, the 'stem' from the pommel disc, the long squarish langet, and unusual discoid quillon terminals all seem to emphasize Rajput, and certainly a high end example. This deeply inset circular cartouche seems to appear on tulwar blades which do appear to be of Rajasthani type. While this blade has the distinctive 'Indian ricasso' it is nicely curved, and with shamshir character, extremely sharp to very sharp point. With Matt Eastons demonstration in the video you can see how this tulwar was designed for the draw cut he describes. The 'diamond' grip fits the hand perfectly, with the forefinger wrapped around the quillon, to firmly control the arc of the sword cut.