Form where in India and how old is this katar?

[Jens Nordlunde]

Now let's see how good you are, when it comes to Indian arms.
I would like to know from where it is, and how old it is.

[Montino Bourbon]

Looks like parasols in the koftgari. Usually that was a mark of someone related to the imperial family.

A beautiful piece. The simplicity of the blade and the clean lines are excellent. I would have to say a very high-status piece.

Age? I'll venture 18 century.

[Lew]

My guess is Deccan circa1820-30

[Nathaniel]

Very beautiful! Congrats! Thanks for sharing!

[Pukka Bundook]

Jens,

What I know about katars is what you have told me.
Unfortunately you didn't tell me anything about this one!

Now, if you had displayed one here that you Had already showed me, I could have impressed everyone by (hopefully) getting it right!

a stab at it;

Bikaner, late 18th C.

Why Bikaner?
It's in the North, and I think this Is from Rajasthan,...........(but I could be wrong, I once was, you know...:-) )

Very nice work by the way, and the koftgari has me foxed.

Richard.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Thank you for your answers.
The katar is from Deccan and it is from the 17th to early 18th century. The strange thing is that there are three numerals '3' and '34' in another line. These numerals are of a type used in Kutch, Nepal and Tibet. I don't think it was ever in Nepal or in Tibet, but maybe it has at one point been in an armoury in Kutch, or maybe in another armoury where someone from Kutch was employed - who knows?
Richard, I just saw your post, and you are right, you have not seen this one before. It's pure Deccan, and in a fantastic condition for the age. It is hard to say how the decoration was made, but to me it seems as if it is koftgari and inlay.

[Lew]

Well Jens at least I was correct as far as Deccan was concerned.


Jens do you think this katar is Deccan?

[Battara]

One day when I grow up (and have lots of money) I will get a beautiful katar like yours Jen.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Montino,

I did not answer your question about the parasols, they are not, they are flowers hanging down over the stem. If it is koftgari is a question I have not been able to establish yet. The copper is inlay, no question about it, but when it comes to the silver most traces have been by old rust/dirt, so I will have to make a photographic experiment to look for clues.

Lew,

I think you did all right , considering that you only had a picture to look at, and I have the katar in my hand.
What does the decoration of the side guards look like? My first guess would be Rajasthan.

[Lew]

Jens

No decorations just plain steel. It seems to me that most katars from Rajasthan that I have seen are not really decorated and are more plain. This is of course is due to my limited exposure. I'm sure there are some but I have not come across any so far. Also since there were many wars between different kingdoms where the defeated sides armoury was sacked and those particular weapons were spread around to other regions of India it becomes difficult to make a precise call on their origins.

[rickystl]

Jens: There are members on this Forum who have forgotten more than I know about Indian arms. I only own two items: A Tulwar and a Torodor Musket. So that I can learn more about Katars, I think you should send me yours to study, say for a couple years.
Seriously, that is a fantastic looking Katar. And in great condition!!!
Your's too Lew. First time I've seen one with an original scabbard.
Thank you gentlemen for posting. Rick.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Lew,

Don’t worry about ’missing’ decorations. I also have katars ‘only’ with chiselled decorations, and I like them a lot. In a way they are more ‘honest’ than the others, although the others can be flashier. You are, of course, right that weapons and other goods of value, travelled a lot when a battle had been won, and where it ended in the first place, may not have been where it was, when the armoury was split up – it could be in quite another part of the India.

The photographic test on my katar has been made, and both the copper and the silver have been inlaid – fantastic work.

[Battara]

That kind of inlay is more difficult to do than koftgari. Thus is even more impressive work than I thought before. Great skill was used for this work indeed!

[Jens Nordlunde]

Battara,
The earlier Indians were true artists,when it came to inlays, enamels and many other forms of decoration.
Jens

[Battara]

Oh no doubt. That is why earlier pieces Indian, Indonesian, and Moro seem to be of better quality.

[archer]

Jens, since you are not seeing the normal cross hatching seen in koftgari is it
likely that the Persian style, of punched holes used to anchor the material was used? Your cameras magnification may well tell the tale. Another fine example
as usual. I added a very worn example of punch work. Thanks for sharing it and the mystery. Steve

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hi Steve,
I know what you mean, but this is inlay, and it must have been a very difficult work to do so, as the channels were made very close to each other. Someone who could do this kind of work must have been a very skilled craftsman.
Most of what we see to day is koftgari, but I guess that in some collections you will find inlay if you look hard enough. If the picture is good enough, and you blow it up, you will be able to see where the channels once were, covered in old dirt and old rust, but you can see them.
Nice blade btw.
Jens

[Battara]

Very true good quality inlay is quite a skill, and this type of inlay is IMHO a greater skill than that of koftgari (which is difficult in its own right).