A visit to Bikaner, Rajasthan

[Richard Furrer]

I was at Junagarh Fort in 2007.

Here are some more images:
http://www.doorcountyforgeworks.com/...5_Entry_1.html
Due to the high polish on the blades I could only see one or two that were obviously pattern-welded.

I recall a good number of Solingen blades in one case. Some with the running fox engraved in the blades.

There were some courtly paintings discovered under some black paint in the private rooms upstairs....wonderful things only recently brought to like weeks before my visit.
I am sorry to see they still have the chicken wire on the cases.

I remember the curator of the site, a retired Colonel, being a lovely person. We had dinner the day following the tour of the museum. He was the one who discovered the paintings.

I would call it a two day museum...too much to see in a single visit.

Ric

[Montino Bourbon]

Have been for over three weeks already. I'm an Indian musician, so I'm having a lot of fun playing music. However there are some interesting things for sale as well. I've seen some lovely court daggers with ivory handles for sale. prices are high, and I don't really enjoy a lot of bling; I much prefer a really excellent blade and a functional dagger. When I was here last January, and I expressed interest in a dagger in the city palace collection, but had to note that it had some rust starting, I was taken to the back room where I saw some unbelievable pieces. I was handed an extremely large sword, a tegha, and had the presence of mind to look down and find the kind of cotton gloves that I have been taught to put on when handling such things. I was then shown some katars that were absolutely unbelievable. The metal inlay was easily as good as really excellent Japanese metal inlay. The details were small enough that I had to use a loupe to make out some of the animals. That's the part of the exhibition that you don't see. I certainly hope that a photo catalog is coming out soon.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Richard Furrer

I was at Junagarh Fort in 2007.

Here are some more images:
http://www.doorcountyforgeworks.com/...5_Entry_1.html
Due to the high polish on the blades I could only see one or two that were obviously pattern-welded.

I recall a good number of Solingen blades in one case. Some with the running fox engraved in the blades.

There were some courtly paintings discovered under some black paint in the private rooms upstairs....wonderful things only recently brought to like weeks before my visit.
I am sorry to see they still have the chicken wire on the cases.

I remember the curator of the site, a retired Colonel, being a lovely person. We had dinner the day following the tour of the museum. He was the one who discovered the paintings.

I would call it a two day museum...too much to see in a single visit.

Ric

Great photos thanks Ric.

Gav