Shamshir information needed

[Richard G]

AJ1356,
Dr James Burnes was an elder brother of Alexander Burnes. He was certainly active in Bombay about this time and may well have visited Scinde, He is most famous (?) for being a prominent Freemason and founding the first lodge open to non-europeans in Bombay in 1843.

In my opinion this is an old blade valued by the Talpeers and inscribed on their instruction around 1843, and three reasons spring to mind:-
1, They had geniune respect for his brother Alexander.
2, It could have been diplomatically advantageous to keep a British official "onside" in 1842/3.
3, the Masonic connection.
It seems unlikely that they would have presented a blade only, but the mounts and scabbard fittings are definitely English from around this time, in the style of a British mameluke hilted General Officers sword (pattern 1831) which also became a popular pattern for diplomatic dress etc.

I think this sword, despite it's lack of scabbard, could fetch significant money (in my terms, anyway) on the London art market and is certainly worth further investigation, e.g. is there an important Peruvian connection?
Regards
Richard

PS, You know, looking back at the pictures, I'm not so sure the hilt and fittings are English:-
1, the scabbard fittings look like Bombay or Kutch work if you ignore the armorial,
2, the overall curve of the hilt is not what you would expect from an English maker,
3, the langets look a bit thin and the hilt seems to be seated in a a black lac.

Intriguing?

[Richard G]

Found this: http://www.talpur.com/. Also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talpur

Obviously the author has a point of view not all will agree with, but it is interesting to see the family is still very active today.

Briefly, Dr James Burnes was sent as a doctor to Mir Murad Ali Khan in Scinde in 1827. Mir Murad Ali Khan later became governor of Khaipur and, in essence, was part of a plot, in collaboration with the E.I.C., to replace his cousin as top dog in Scinde. It was the refusal of his brothers and cousins to go along with this that led to the annexation of Scinde by Napier in 1843.

Go to the gallery section of the family website and you can see a photo of a Mir Ali Murad Khan Talpur when an old man. Could this be the same man?

Regards
Richard

[laEspadaAncha]

Originally Posted by Richard G

PS, You know, looking back at the pictures, I'm not so sure the hilt and fittings are English:-
1, the scabbard fittings look like Bombay or Kutch work if you ignore the armorial,

...which would explain the prominence of the peacock on each.

Jacques, was there enough of the original scabbard remaining for you to be able to describe it's construction? I ask as considering you have the original fittings, were this in my collection, I would seriously consider having a replacement scabbard professionally made.

[VANDERNOTTE]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

...which would explain the prominence of the peacock on each.

Jacques, was there enough of the original scabbard remaining for you to be able to describe it's construction? I ask as considering you have the original fittings, were this in my collection, I would seriously consider having a replacement scabbard professionally made.

Only a peace of wood around ten inches long in the remaining from the scabbard. Sadly there is no one in Peru who can acomplish a professional recreation of it.

Jacques

[VANDERNOTTE]

Dom;

I trully appreciate your work and I thank you for sharing your knowledge with me.

Jacques

[Richard G]

This might be of interest;-
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/a...f-fe1c03ae6067

Regards
Richard

[VANDERNOTTE]

big interest
tk you richard
jacques