TULWAR for Comment and ID

[Jim McDougall]

A very nice example Stu, and what I would consider probably Rajput, if considering the designs in the pommel bowl. The langet and general styling corresponds with tulwars from N.India, particularly regions near what is now Afghanistan, and south into Sind, Baluchistan, Rajasthan....noting that Rajasthan held most of the production centers.

It is extremely difficult to geographically place tulwars as these were used in so many regions, but primarily in India north of the Deccan. Tulwars did however follow southward through Deccan to Sultanates in south as far as Mysore with Mughals.

It is pretty much always safe to assess 19th century with these tulwars, though many can place further back into mid to latter 18th on occasion. Mostly they are mid to latter 19th c. Remarkable numbers of these were collected as souvenirs during the British Raj, and at the huge 'Durbar' events where sellers from many princely states presented their wares.

Tirri's book follows many writers in relying on the Pant classification system ("Indian Arms & Armor", G.N.Pant, 1980) where the author has categorized various styles mostly in accord with regions, and while useful as far as using the terms in discussion to specify, these classifications are not entirely viable.
For example terms like Udaipuri, Sirohi etc. are among numerous locations in Rajasthan where hilts and blades were widely produced, exchanged and exported. These hilts were maintained traditionally for centuries, and only decorative nuances and motifs can sometimes offer more specifics.
For example Lahore had distinct preferences for enamel on hilts, some locations used gold koftgari in a 'diaper' pattern , some used the silver over back 'Bidri' style. The floral or star shape on the guard on this one along with the face like langet remind me of northwest frontier (then termed India, but now Afghanistan, Khyber into Sind).

The designs in the pommel remind me of the kinds of designs used by Rajput clans, in this case solar themed.

[Kubur]

Thank you Jim, very informative as always!
If I remember Rawson discussed Indian hilt styles too, but the lack of pictures makes the text difficult to understand...At least, Pant had these ugly, but useful, drawings...

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Thank you Jim, very informative as always!
If I remember Rawson discussed Indian hilt styles too, but the lack of pictures makes the text difficult to understand...At least, Pant had these ugly, but useful, drawings...

Thanks Kubur, actually I had great opportunities in learning about tulwars in years of discussions with Jens, as well as researching these in many resources that developed along with them. Actually Jens was involved in printing the first edition of 'The Indian Sword" in Denmark and once shared the original manuscript from Philip Rawson, which was written in cataloging the collections in V & A in London.

Actually, as Jens once pointed out, Rawson was concerned primarily with blade forms and made little mention of hilts. Pant, in 1980, was concerned primarily with hilt forms, though of course did make some observations on blades. He also took issue with numerous statements made by Rawson, and noted those in rebuttal in his book.

Its funny, even as much as I learned on tulwars, for years, I have only found more questions to be answered!
The learning never stops.....which is why we're all here.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

A very nice example Stu, and what I would consider probably Rajput, if considering the designs in the pommel bowl. The langet and general styling corresponds with tulwars from N.India, particularly regions near what is now Afghanistan, and south into Sind, Baluchistan, Rajasthan....noting that Rajasthan held most of the production centers.

It is extremely difficult to geographically place tulwars as these were used in so many regions, but primarily in India north of the Deccan. Tulwars did however follow southward through Deccan to Sultanates in south as far as Mysore with Mughals.

It is pretty much always safe to assess 19th century with these tulwars, though many can place further back into mid to latter 18th on occasion. Mostly they are mid to latter 19th c. Remarkable numbers of these were collected as souvenirs during the British Raj, and at the huge 'Durbar' events where sellers from many princely states presented their wares.

Tirri's book follows many writers in relying on the Pant classification system ("Indian Arms & Armor", G.N.Pant, 1980) where the author has categorized various styles mostly in accord with regions, and while useful as far as using the terms in discussion to specify, these classifications are not entirely viable.
For example terms like Udaipuri, Sirohi etc. are among numerous locations in Rajasthan where hilts and blades were widely produced, exchanged and exported. These hilts were maintained traditionally for centuries, and only decorative nuances and motifs can sometimes offer more specifics.
For example Lahore had distinct preferences for enamel on hilts, some locations used gold koftgari in a 'diaper' pattern , some used the silver over back 'Bidri' style. The floral or star shape on the guard on this one along with the face like langet remind me of northwest frontier (then termed India, but now Afghanistan, Khyber into Sind).

The designs in the pommel remind me of the kinds of designs used by Rajput clans, in this case solar themed.

Thank you very much Jim. As usual most informative.
Stu

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Thank you very much Jim. As usual most informative.
Stu

You are quite welcome Stu, its always good to see a great example for discussion and a chance to revisit old studies.

[kahnjar1]

Hi Jim,
I guess the door is still open in terms of the origins of my Tulwar. So it could be either North or South India depending on your particular view. Anyway lets say at least it is Western India (either north or south!)
My understanding of those Northwest Indian swords is that if they have the downturned quillons then they are Afghani Poulwars and not Tulwars, but whats in a name anyway!
Really love that pic of the Tulwar hilt tops!
Stu

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Jim,
I guess the door is still open in terms of the origins of my Tulwar. So it could be either North or South India depending on your particular view. Anyway lets say at least it is Western India (either north or south!)
My understanding of those Northwest Indian swords is that if they have the downturned quillons then they are Afghani Poulwars and not Tulwars, but whats in a name anyway!
Really love that pic of the Tulwar hilt tops!
Stu

I guess it comes down to, just WHAT includes South India...........the tulwar (Indo-Persian hilt as commonly known) was simply NOT used south of the Deccan. The only exception was that Tipu Sultan of Mysore had one, and if his forces possibly used them. It is just they were not prevalent by any means. Nobody will find a Tamil tulwar.
In the Deccan what prevailed was the khanda, firangi, though I have an example of a 'shamshir hilt' 'tulwar from Deccan.

Correct on the downturn quillons regarded as paluoars (cognate with 'tulwar'), which were regarded as Northwest Indian in 1880s into early 20th.
Now they are considered Afghan but their use had already gone by these times. The 'features' in the hilts were regarded as Deccani in the quillon terminals and bowl pommel .

So I am curious in the suggestion of South Indian tulwar, just what geographic area is meant?

[Jim McDougall]

I wanted to add the 'Deccani' type tulwar mentioned in my previous post.
This hilt has what is termed 'Persian' style (=shamshir) hilt.
What I would note here is that 'tulwar' is an Indian dialect term for 'sword' in general, so here it is termed tulwar even with this type hilt.
What is interesting here is this one has a British M1788 light cavalry blade, and is an amalgamation likely from East India Co. in Mysore post Seringpatam (1800+).

Next is the most familiar 'Indo-Persian' hilt as seen in the OP form, but here the styling with peaked midrif, squared elongated langet is a type regarded (Pant.1980) as Udaipuri (Udaiper, a city in Rajasthan state), and these probably may be considered mostly Rajput in use, though of course Sikhs and Jains also.
Note the 'stem' in the disc pommel, often associated with the longer stem on khanda/firangi also used by Rajputs (and of course Marathas), west central to northwest India.

Next is the 'Delhishahi' form (Pant, 1980) but without knuckleguard. This may be seen more as Mughal in form and as noted from Delhi in the north,but more eastward. These I have always considered more for 'court' wear, dress occasions.
This one unique in that it has an Osborn (England) 1796 blade, and may well derive again from East India Co. contact and Mughal connections between the south into Delhi in the north.
It is notable that Tipu Sultan of Mysore did have an Indo Persian hilt tulwar now on display in Delhi. Note the koftgari motif and floral pommel disc decoration, as opposed to the radiating geometrics in Rajput forms.