Decoration on Indian blades

Jens Nordlunde · 27th November 2015, 04:19 PM

Battara,
I do answer late on this one - sorry, but here I am :-).

The dagger with 'kundan' shown, is an example of how they sometimes tried to fool buyers. The original gold/gems have been stripped off, and likely sold for scrap value.
What you then do is, to take some coloured metal foil and glue it where the gems have been. then you take some glass/crystal pieces of the right size, place them on the foil, take some soft metal, in this case lead and hammer it around the 'gem', and at last you take a very thing gold foil and cover the lead. In the end you have an 'almost kundan' decorated dagger hilt.

Battara · 30th November 2015, 12:20 AM

Thank you Jens. It would appear that even the forger's art takes skill!

27th November 2015, 04:19 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Battara, I do answer late on this one - sorry, but here I am :-). The dagger with 'kundan' shown, is an example of how they sometimes tried to fool buyers. The original gold/gems have been stripped off, and likely sold for scrap value. What you then do is, to take some coloured metal foil and glue it where the gems have been. then you take some glass/crystal pieces of the right size, place them on the foil, take some soft metal, in this case lead and hammer it around the 'gem', and at last you take a very thing gold foil and cover the lead. In the end you have an 'almost kundan' decorated dagger hilt.

30th November 2015, 12:20 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Thank you Jens. It would appear that even the forger's art takes skill!