Decoration on Indian hilts

Jens Nordlunde · 24th February 2005, 08:43 PM

Gene, thank you for a sleepless night

. I cant tell you at pressent, but I will return to morrow - hopefully with an answer - or at least a guess.
This is all very difficult, but if we can pin point the flowers we are quite a step further. Flowers, colours and animals were not only decoration - they had their own meaning beyond the decorative thing.

Jens

Jens Nordlunde · 25th February 2005, 03:25 PM

Gene, I still don't know, but I am looking into it, and when I know I will let you know. Remember that flowers cut in the steel, are less likely to have many details, whereas hilts cast in cire perdy or enamelled hilts have far more details.
To study Indian textiles with flowers can be a big help, as the mane of the flowers are often given.
Notice that Crysanthemum Indicum is not the same Chrysanthemum as the one you see in Japanese and Chinese decorations.
The decoration shown is, to the best of my knowledge Roses and made in cire perdy.

Jens Nordlunde · 25th February 2005, 03:27 PM

Jeff, it is not very precise, but I hope it helps a little.

Plate 6. The flowers on both hilts are the Chrysanthemum Indicum. The Tiger and Lion are always proper terminations for Indian swords. The Hakim Shahi hilt (b) is of the ordinary Indian form.

Jens Nordlunde · 25th February 2005, 03:30 PM

Plate 7. The sword hilt (a) has a pistol shaped head such as is more often used for daggers. The flowers are the Lily and Chrysanthemum Indicum. Roses, Lilies, and buds of another flower enrich the hilt (d), which is suitable for an English straight sword. It has a knuckle-guard.
Name of enameller Hari Singh.

ariel · 25th February 2005, 03:31 PM

Any flower with thorns is a rose.
Any flower without thorns is a tulip.
This classification served me rather well over the years: my wife had to take full responsibility fot the flower bed and I am not asked to get involved.

25th February 2005, 03:25 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Gene, I still don't know, but I am looking into it, and when I know I will let you know. Remember that flowers cut in the steel, are less likely to have many details, whereas hilts cast in cire perdy or enamelled hilts have far more details. To study Indian textiles with flowers can be a big help, as the mane of the flowers are often given. Notice that Crysanthemum Indicum is not the same Chrysanthemum as the one you see in Japanese and Chinese decorations. The decoration shown is, to the best of my knowledge Roses and made in cire perdy. Attached Images

25th February 2005, 03:27 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Jeff, it is not very precise, but I hope it helps a little. Plate 6. The flowers on both hilts are the Chrysanthemum Indicum. The Tiger and Lion are always proper terminations for Indian swords. The Hakim Shahi hilt (b) is of the ordinary Indian form. Attached Images

25th February 2005, 03:30 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Plate 7. The sword hilt (a) has a pistol shaped head such as is more often used for daggers. The flowers are the Lily and Chrysanthemum Indicum. Roses, Lilies, and buds of another flower enrich the hilt (d), which is suitable for an English straight sword. It has a knuckle-guard. Name of enameller Hari Singh. Attached Images

24th February 2005, 08:43 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Gene, thank you for a sleepless night . I cant tell you at pressent, but I will return to morrow - hopefully with an answer - or at least a guess. This is all very difficult, but if we can pin point the flowers we are quite a step further. Flowers, colours and animals were not only decoration - they had their own meaning beyond the decorative thing. Jens

25th February 2005, 03:31 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Any flower with thorns is a rose. Any flower without thorns is a tulip. This classification served me rather well over the years: my wife had to take full responsibility fot the flower bed and I am not asked to get involved.