Tulwar hilts made of silver

Jens Nordlunde · 24th July 2012, 01:12 PM

All right, to stick to the rules I also have to show the whole sword, here it is.

Andrew · 24th July 2012, 05:50 PM

Hideous. Absolutely hideous. How can you bear to have that in your posession, Jens?

As a personal favor to you, my friend, I will fight my nausea and keep it for you.

Let me know and I'll PM you my shipping information...

Jim McDougall · 24th July 2012, 08:32 PM

I dont want to deviate too much from the present discussion, but is this langet not an extremely different form compared to most other Indo-Persian tulwar hilts? It seems to me that entirely silvered Mughal hilts are quite rare compared to the usual koftgari patterns.
Have the cartouche and buduh been translated Jens?

Aside from the obvious attractiveness of this tulwar and its silvered hilt, there are other notable features which might reveal more on where other silver hilts might be known.
Erich asks a quite valid question, are there any hallmarks ?
With the popularity of silver hilts in the west in the late 18th century, perhaps the style influenced the princely states in India. In many other colonial settings, silver mounted hilts often had hallmarks in accord with western systems.

Enibas · 25th July 2012, 08:17 AM

Thanks for showing this beautiful tulwar and all answers!

Also, I am equally impressed by the blade and the hilt.

Sure are hilts of silver possible, which were driven to decorative purposes?

In addition I have two questions:

-Which kind of decor ist possible? Flowers?

-So a collector told me, that figural carved handles are the younger ones, ca. from 19th century. He showed me a tulwar. The hilt was apparently driven from silver and in the form of a tiger's head. Hilt probably made from massive silver. (This tulwar has triggered actually my questions here in the forum)

Can that be true? Or does anyone know of a counterexample?

kind regards
enibas

Jens Nordlunde · 25th July 2012, 09:49 AM

Hello Andrew

, a long time I hid it away at a place where I was sure I could find it, but now I have forgotten where that is. Should I however find it, I will be sure to remember your thoughts about where it ought to be

.
Eric, no there are no hallmarks, and I have, as far as I remember, nit seen hallmarks on Indian made silver hilts.
Jim, I have been told that the inscription says 'made by Mirza Ali'.
Silver Mughal hilts are not seen often, and you are right the end of the langet is most unusual - it is the only one I have ever seen.
Enibas, silver hilts can be plain like the one shown, gilded or decorated in many different ways. It is not true that hilts ending in an animal head are 19th century. They can be, but they can also be much older.
Jens

Jim McDougall · 25th July 2012, 10:14 PM

Thank you Jens, it really is unusual and makes me think of the solar or lunar symbols used in Rajput and Sikh symbolism. I was thinking of the Sikh headdress which is conelike and decorated with chakra and devices more like crescents.
Perhaps someone out there might offer some thoughts for such an unusual device in place of the usual langets, maybe the Sikh readers may have some insight. While it is a Mughal blade, possibly remounted in Sikh or Rajput hilt?

olikara · 28th July 2012, 05:58 PM

The langet reminds me of the Shiite Alams carried during the Moharram processions in India. Have attached a picture of some alams from Hyderabad in the Deccan. But again, these flags/symbols (alams) were and are still used all over the subcontinent.

24th July 2012, 01:12 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	All right, to stick to the rules I also have to show the whole sword, here it is. Attached Images

24th July 2012, 08:32 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	I dont want to deviate too much from the present discussion, but is this langet not an extremely different form compared to most other Indo-Persian tulwar hilts? It seems to me that entirely silvered Mughal hilts are quite rare compared to the usual koftgari patterns. Have the cartouche and buduh been translated Jens? Aside from the obvious attractiveness of this tulwar and its silvered hilt, there are other notable features which might reveal more on where other silver hilts might be known. Erich asks a quite valid question, are there any hallmarks ? With the popularity of silver hilts in the west in the late 18th century, perhaps the style influenced the princely states in India. In many other colonial settings, silver mounted hilts often had hallmarks in accord with western systems. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 24th July 2012 at 09:46 PM.

25th July 2012, 08:17 AM	#4
Enibas Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 13	Other issues to hilts made of silver Thanks for showing this beautiful tulwar and all answers! Also, I am equally impressed by the blade and the hilt. Sure are hilts of silver possible, which were driven to decorative purposes? In addition I have two questions: -Which kind of decor ist possible? Flowers? -So a collector told me, that figural carved handles are the younger ones, ca. from 19th century. He showed me a tulwar. The hilt was apparently driven from silver and in the form of a tiger's head. Hilt probably made from massive silver. (This tulwar has triggered actually my questions here in the forum) Can that be true? Or does anyone know of a counterexample? kind regards enibas

28th July 2012, 05:58 PM	#7
olikara Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: India Posts: 101	The langet reminds me of the Shiite Alams carried during the Moharram processions in India. Have attached a picture of some alams from Hyderabad in the Deccan. But again, these flags/symbols (alams) were and are still used all over the subcontinent. Attached Images

24th July 2012, 05:50 PM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Hideous. Absolutely hideous. How can you bear to have that in your posession, Jens? As a personal favor to you, my friend, I will fight my nausea and keep it for you. Let me know and I'll PM you my shipping information...

25th July 2012, 09:49 AM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hello Andrew , a long time I hid it away at a place where I was sure I could find it, but now I have forgotten where that is. Should I however find it, I will be sure to remember your thoughts about where it ought to be . Eric, no there are no hallmarks, and I have, as far as I remember, nit seen hallmarks on Indian made silver hilts. Jim, I have been told that the inscription says 'made by Mirza Ali'. Silver Mughal hilts are not seen often, and you are right the end of the langet is most unusual - it is the only one I have ever seen. Enibas, silver hilts can be plain like the one shown, gilded or decorated in many different ways. It is not true that hilts ending in an animal head are 19th century. They can be, but they can also be much older. Jens

25th July 2012, 10:14 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Thank you Jens, it really is unusual and makes me think of the solar or lunar symbols used in Rajput and Sikh symbolism. I was thinking of the Sikh headdress which is conelike and decorated with chakra and devices more like crescents. Perhaps someone out there might offer some thoughts for such an unusual device in place of the usual langets, maybe the Sikh readers may have some insight. While it is a Mughal blade, possibly remounted in Sikh or Rajput hilt?