When it comes to Indian arms - Indian Zoomorphic Daggers

[ALEX]

Thanks Jens, Jim,
Jens, you're close with one element, but not exactly. I'll post the answer if noone guesses right. I think these minor details and the messages the makers and patrons of these times were trying to convey were more meaningful than we think and their eyes were trained to recognize and understand these details on a different level. Thus, it is important for any art connoisseur to be able to recognize them to get closer to their intended meaning.

Kubur, by all means, the horses, how could I forget I recall seeing only one Mughal all-steel horse head in one of the books, but think it was all-silver; and many ivory and jade ones of course, but never in any museums or collections I saw all-metal one.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Alex, I am looking forward to the conclusion of your questions:-), and I find the thread very interesting.
Now that the thread has been expanded. I do have a Khanjar with a nilgai head on top of the hilt. The reins on the nilgais head are likely made later, to make it look like a horse.
You are right, many of the 'signs' shown on the weapons were easy for them to 'read', but not for us as we lack their background for understanding the signs. I have some katars from South India, on one you can clearly see two peacocks at the top of the blade, but on another you will have to know what it is before you can see them. On Chilamums you sometimes see an elephant, but at other times you only see two holes - representing the elephant.

[ALEX]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Alex, I am looking forward to the conclusion of your questions:-)....

Jens, here is the answer: there are two poppy plants swaying on long, slender stems emphasizing the chape's vertical form. Among them, there are bristling buds, floating clouds and 2 plumb butterflies... this chape has a representation of miniature garden... I am sure now you can see it all

[mariusgmioc]

Mine is probably later than Mughal. My guess is from around 1900.

[Ren Ren]

Beautiful item!

[Jens Nordlunde]

Thank you Alex.
Is it inlaid or koftgari?
My gues is inlay, and i do love the 'flaming pearls':-).

[Richard Furrer]

Jens, On that Khanjar with a nilgai head....can you show a larger photo of the weld junction between the body of the blade and the tip?

I have several 1900's all metal daggers with ram heads and modern stone carved handles with many animals...not really worth showing you lot.

Ric

[ALEX]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Thank you Alex.
Is it inlaid or koftgari?
My gues is inlay, and i do love the 'flaming pearls':-).

Jens, it appears to be coftgari, but you're right - it is exceptionally fine gold inlay work from 17th Century.

[mahratt]

Not completely steel, but zoomorphic

[kronckew]

my rams head twins (Well, twin grips anyway. One is not quite as curved.)

Long Daggers, or Short swords? the blades have had the active rust removed by me after reciept and after these vendor pics were taken. very plain bronze hand grips with cross-guards and nice rams head pommels. Unmarked blades held in by thermal setting laha resin cutlers cement*. Sharp & no ricassos. Scabbards need TLC.

*- Laha is plant resin mixed with a bit of bee's wax, brick dust and water buffalo dung, it smells when it is warmed. Badly. (One blade was loose so I warmed the grip and reset it. Luckily it was summer and all the windows were open and there was a good breeze. Nice & tight again.)