Sword
Indian - Central or South
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1600 - 1800
Materials
Steel, copper and steel
Measurements
1000 mm (L)
Place of origin
India
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1180601
Summary
A 'khanda' sword, the steel basket hilt with traces of gold overlay, applied steel reinforcement plate at the forte; a circular copper inlay on the blade; the spiked circular pommel has a swivel with striped and tasselled braid strap attached. This has the same type of blade as 1180600 and is rivetted in a similar way to the hilt, though it lacks the additional reinforcement plate running along one of the edges. This allows a circular copper inlay to be seen on the blade, apparently filling a hole which could be explained by reference to the swords presented by the Princess of Tanjore to the Prince of Wales. On these, the seating of the hilt extends for one fifth of the length of the blade and is rivetted; a shorter seating would reveal the earlier holes, which is presumably the case here. Copper inlays on a comparable hilt are on a sword with Seringapatam connections in the V&A. There are two openwork lotus bud 'quillons' beneath the guard of the hilt. Blade S.India, 17th century (?); Hilt Central or S.India, 18th century. See 'Treasures from India' catalogue, p.52.
Provenance
Accepted by HM Treasury on 21st March, 1963 in lieu of tax and conveyed to National Trust ownership on 29th November 1963.
Makers and roles
Indian - Central or South , maker