Ayda katti
Indian - Coorg
Category
Arms and armour
Date
Unknown
Materials
steel, gilt & horn
Measurements
520 mm (H); 110 mm (W); 60 mm (D)
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 107246
Summary
Ayday Katti knife. The Ayda Katti ('war knife' in Tamil) is the national weapon of the Coorg, a martial tribe living in the Western Ghats near the Malabar coast. It is usually carried with the Pichangatti (107233 in case 1). It is distinguishable by its sickle-shaped steel blade, its horn hilt with pear-shaped pommel and the Coorg seal that can be seen as gilt inlay on the blade. This particular hilt has a criss-cross pattern on its grip and along the edge of the pommel, on the top of the which, there is a carved and gilded flower.
Provenance
Purchased in 1986 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000). Gifted to the National Trust in 1987 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Marks and inscriptions
Coorg seal on blade
Makers and roles
Indian - Coorg , maker