Carved ivory handles on Indian edged weapons

[Jim McDougall]

Likhari.
I would like to join in welcoming you to the forum, and thank you for the kind compliments! I am honored to be included with those others you named and we are among many others here who also generously contribute to the enlightenments here.
As Jens has noted, we are all students in our shared fields of study, and here we continue to learn together.

This is a wonderful topic, and you have shared some great examples.
In the initial post, the second photo is an intriguing sword which seems to clearly reflect a British military officers gestalt. The hilt recalls the stirrup hilt forms of M1796 period, with a beautiful custom grip. The koftgari band on the blade is similar to an example I had some time ago.
It was a solid steel Persian style tulwar hilt (shamshir) but with the langets and quillon terminals of the Indo-Persian tulwar hilt.
The blade was that of a British M1788 light cavalry sabre, which had clearly been rehilted and a koftgari panel added at the forte.

These kinds of hybrids seem to have flourished in Deccani regions post Seringapatam and the opening years of the 19th century, and it would seem that perhaps this sword in your photos is another .

The carved ivory dual 'hayamukhi' (horseheads) is most unusual and amazing, and with the forte panel of Islamic script, this blade appears to be one of the well known Persian trade blades of first quarter to mid 19th c.

The carved tulwar hilt in ivory of Indo-Persian style has an interesting blade with all visible the diapered pattern forte.

I think there is so much to be learned from Indian weapons, as they are so deeply imbued with the cultures, religions and traditions of this most fascinating subcontinent. I am very grateful to have you join us here!!

Jim

[rand]

Likhari,

You have a very nice sword that is also in great condition. Have you pondered removing the shellack from the ivory, it could make a very dramatic difference. Have had two pieces in the past that were covered with shellack, coincidently both were from india. And both looked much better after the shellack was taken off.

Also would like to comment on the scabbard. Would think the officer who commissioned this would have had a scabbard with a double hanger in the British 1822 style. Also believe judging from the quality of the sword its scabbard would have been of a higher dress quality equal to the sword.

Really like your sword, the well carved ivory handle along with nicely etched wootz blade topped off with the gold koftgari is a win, win,win.


rand

[rand]

Have been thinking about the ivory handle on your sword. Have you entertained the idea that the ivory carving could have been done by a persian artisan? Or do the floral design on the handle look more indian than persain?

rand

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by rand

Likhari,

Have you pondered removing the shellack from the ivory, it could make a very dramatic difference.


rand

Rand,

how exactly did you removed the shellack? Until now I removed shellack with Aceton or Nitro thinner from steel and silver but I think Aceton or Nitro might be too strong for ivory or wood.

Thank you,
Roland

[rand]

Hi Roland,

Has been quite a while since removing shellack off a weapon, but believe I used nail polish remover. Remember it came off quite quickly and the before and after was dramatic. Afterwards I apply japanese choi oil(pure choi oil, no water) in the same manner you would a japanese sword.

rand

[Likhari]

Thanks for the warm welcome Jim and also for your excellent comments on the weapons I posted.

Mr. Rand Milam is bang on as always about the scabbard. It is indeed a later addition and in no way matches the quality of the piece. The blade is what got me. It is possibly of Persian origin but the yelman and curvature is more reminiscent of a kilij (Maybe it is Turkish). The ivory handle is carved in low relief that I have seen on Indian Pesh Kabz handles like the one picture below from Bonhams; so I would hazard that it is Indian in origin and as Jim pointed out it is possibly Deccani from the post-Seringapatam period of the early 1800s. The 1796 guard also puts it in the early 1800s.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by rand

Likhari,

You have a very nice sword that is also in great condition. Have you pondered removing the shellack from the ivory, it could make a very dramatic difference. Have had two pieces in the past that were covered with shellack, coincidently both were from india. And both looked much better after the shellack was taken off.

Also would like to comment on the scabbard. Would think the officer who commissioned this would have had a scabbard with a double hanger in the British 1822 style. Also believe judging from the quality of the sword its scabbard would have been of a higher dress quality equal to the sword.

Really like your sword, the well carved ivory handle along with nicely etched wootz blade topped off with the gold koftgari is a win, win,win.


rand

I completely agree Rand, that in view of the military regulation features of the guard and langets, it would be presumed that the scabbard would be accordingly two carry ring in the style of British patterns of the time.

The brass mounts are also in accord with British officers sword scabbards of the time (early 19th), however, the langet receiver at the throat is very much aligned as well with swords produced in Hyderabad (many Arabian sa'if).

Post Seringapatam there was powerful celebratory and commemorative activity in many instances, with certain hybridization in weapons and military fashion notwithstanding. In the already considerable native forces in service of the EIC there were of course many native officers who very much aligned with British regulation arms fitted presumably with their own blades.

While by the same token British officers adopted native style fashions and weaponry, in the occupational circumstances of the times, there were certainly diplomatic instances as well. Weapons such as this seem likely to have been crafted for presentation to key figures whether administratively or within these ranks .

I have seen other examples of hilts (in brass) made with the tiger head (Tipu's leitmotif) fashioned in the M1796 British light cavalry pattern. Examples like these have been suggested to have been commemoratively produced recalling Tipu whether as victory remembrance or honorific for officers of his forces now in British service. Naturally these ideas are debatable.

I recall a case regarding the Napoleonic campaigns in Egypt where one M1803 British flank company officers sword I had was with the typical lion head, however instead of flowing mane, the backstrap included a distinctly sphinx styled headdress on the lions head.
This reflects the kind of commemorative styling sometimes incorporated into British military swords of first quarter 19th c.

If the blade on this sword is also considered, a good number of British military sabres of Napoleonic period had blades with the stepped back (yelman) at blade tip, recalling this established feature on many Indian blades.

[Likhari]

More pictures !

[Jim McDougall]

We seem to have crossed posts Likhari! and great comparison of the hilt on this sword to carved hilts on various dagger forms as noted. It seems that there was considerable confluence of Persian as well as Ottoman influence in Indian weaponry especially in Mughal courts.

The heavy blade with pronounced yelman is of course reminiscent of Ottoman blades such as kilij/pala but these were descended from Turkic forms and very much present in India as well.

Interesting similarity in the brass mounts and brown leather scabbard too.

[Battara]

Likhari I almost bought a similar example to yours but with small cracks. I regret not getting it, but this Bonham's example is a great one.

[Likhari]

Originally Posted by rand

Likhari,

You have a very nice sword that is also in great condition. Have you pondered removing the shellack from the ivory, it could make a very dramatic difference. Have had two pieces in the past that were covered with shellack, coincidently both were from india. And both looked much better after the shellack was taken off.

Also would like to comment on the scabbard. Would think the officer who commissioned this would have had a scabbard with a double hanger in the British 1822 style. Also believe judging from the quality of the sword its scabbard would have been of a higher dress quality equal to the sword.

Really like your sword, the well carved ivory handle along with nicely etched wootz blade topped off with the gold koftgari is a win, win,win.


rand

Knowing how finicky you are, Mr. Milam, about the quality of weapons and the high standards you have for your own collection: I consider your comments to be a great compliment and they will make me treasure this sabre even more.

Here is another example from my collection - an Indian Pesh Kabz with a carved ivory handle. The rivets holding the scaled together having been driven through the center of the carved flowers.