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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Russia
Posts: 1,042
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Dear Forumites,
Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Dmitry and I am from Russia. I am particularly interested in the weapons from India/Iran as well as from their immediate neighbors. I'd like to show you this dagger: IMHO, Chillanum. I would date it to mid/end 18th century and attribute it to South India. I'd very much like to get your opinions. Thanks in advance. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#2 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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I like the delicate and slender lines that this dagger has, thank you for sharing. Gavin |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG)
Posts: 1,142
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Hi "mahratt"
you 'r welcome ![]() India weapons it's not too much my field ![]() your "Chilanum" seems more 17th than 18th century, or in middle of both, this was a favorite dagger of the Marathas of West/Central India and, I love the elegant shape of the blade ![]() hope so that you will have more things to share with us ![]() ŕ + Dom |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Hi Dmitry and welcome to the forum.
Yes, you have a chilanum, and I agree with Dom that it is 17th century, but I would find it safer to say Deccan. In the Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, you can find quite a number of chilanums and other weapons, some marked with the Bikaner dot marking – but they origin from Adoni in Deccan. Here is the story. The reason for all this weapons from Adoni can be read below. The Art and Architecture of Bikaner State by Hermann Goetz, 46-47. Anup Singh [Maharaja of Bikaner] went back to Deccan, and for the next forty years fought in all the endless campaigns there. In 1681 he was commander of Aurangabad, the provincial capital of Deccan; in the next year he fought the Marathas near Satara, Padan Singh had already in 1674 been serious wounded in an encounter with them in Tapti and had been killed in 1682. In 1686 the raja took part in the last siege and capture of Bijapur, the capital of the Adilshahi kingdom, and was raised to the rank of mansabdar of 5,000. In 1687 he led the decisive assult on the fort of Golconda, the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings, and was made maharaja. He then played a prominent role in the pacification of the Carnatic. In 1689 he took Adoni, the residence of Sidi mas’ud, the former regent and last defender of that part of the Adilshahi state which lay in the south between Hyderabad and Mysore; in 1690 he took Sunker. His last years he spent as governor of Adoni and he died there in 1698. |
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#5 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,896
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Welcome to our forums Dmitry, and I must say you've made an impressive entrance here with the presentation of this beautiful chilanum, one of the fascinating and less often discussed weapons in the Indian armoury.
I completely agree with Jens and Dom in the 17th century assessment, well supported with the great detail Jens has added regarding Bikaner, which stands as one of the defining benchmarks in studying the weapons of India. With many forms of ethnographic weapons, and the fact that they remained in use for such long periods, with the added complication of many revival type versions, it is understandable that many scholars are inclined to stay to the conservative side in dating them. Naturally India is very much a case in point, and adds very much to the intrigue in studying thier weapons. I would say you have struck a chord here with this beauty! and I really look forward to further discussion on this and the chilanum form itself. The long slender blade is certainly different than examples we are familiar with, and it is interesting to note the structural shape of the hilt to swords of the period. The recurve and profile of these blades recall of course the pesh kabz of the northern regions, and here we have again established the connections between those areas and the Deccan, clearly affecting the weapon styles. All best regards, Jim |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Here is a picture of Anup Singhji - should you be interested.
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Interesting pieces you show Kurt, please comment on them, age, origin, size and so.
Jens |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 195
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Hi Jens,
beginning with No. 1 I suspect Deccan in 1600??? Inserted handle iron with silver. Heavy blade wootz. Total length 41 cm. Blade 28.5 cm. Weight 648 grams Regards Kurt |
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 195
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Here are two more photos !
Kurt |
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 51
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closeup images look great, i'd be first in line if you wanted to sell
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#11 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Hi Kurt,
Great picture, and a very nice chilanum, and thank you for commenting. I agree with you in your comments, but I doubt that it is from the beginning of 1600. Anyway it is old and very nice. Jens |
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