Tulwar with a hidden text

[Jens Nordlunde]

The tulwar shown below is interesting for several reasons, first be course of the special decoration of the hilt, the gold decoration is framed with silver, and secondly be course of a text hidden under the quillons. The blade is broad and flexible, but not heavy. The text reads, 'this sword will destroy anything to dust'.
Total length 103 cm. Length of blade 88 cm.

[Flavio]

Hi Jens, simply beautiful!

[S.Al-Anizi]

Very nice, especially the blade, and the fact it hasnt been resharpened alot, or even at all

[Joe]

"Destroy anything to dust?"

With a good beefy blade like that, I believe it.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Jens,
Fantastic motif!!! I agree with Joe, that blade means business.
This decoration seems extremely unusual, it seems almost a herringbone type effect. Since the chevron patterns have key significance symbolically, and we know that there are key symbolisms in the floral patterns, I wonder what may be held in this one? It seems that often it is tempting for many to presume aesthetics are the only goal in such unusual motif, but with the weapons of India, there are often cleverly assigned symbolisms. That with the very intimidating message hidden beneath the quillons suggest there may be more.

The closest thing I can see typologically to the style of decoration as well as hilt form on this hilt would be that shown in Rawson (plate 44) which suggests that it is of Lahuri type, and probably early 19th c. The example shown in Rawson carries a floral theme, but distictively uses the bordering technique that outlines the features of the hilt.

Maybe we can find this type of 'herringbone' motif in other Indian art or metalwork?

All the best,
Jim

[FenrisWolf]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

The closest thing I can see typologically to the style of decoration as well as hilt form on this hilt would be that shown in Rawson (plate 44) which suggests that it is of Lahuri type, and probably early 19th c. The example shown in Rawson carries a floral theme, but distictively uses the bordering technique that outlines the features of the hilt.

Maybe we can find this type of 'herringbone' motif in other Indian art or metalwork?

All the best,
Jim

I believe this may also be a plant motif, albeit a stylized one. If you look closely, there's a thin line down the center of each stripe in the 'chevron'. I think they may be leaves, set in a geometric pattern.

I don't know the traditions of India, but in Viking culture runes inscribed on weapons weren't just names or descriptions, but were often active spells or charms to give the weapon more potency. Given the hidden nature of the inscription, is there any chance of the same being present here, a spell placed by the weaponsmaker to make the sword more deadly?