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1 of 253523 objects
Sword, scabbard knife and scabbard nineteenth century
Steel, gold, mother of pearl, iron, rubies, emeralds, pearls. fabric and cord | 127.6 x 8.6 x 6.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 11283
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A sword or talwar with a curved watered crucible steel blade, probably of Iranian origin. A sunken panel near the hilt is chiselled with a scrolling decoration on each side that terminate with escutcheons containing Persian inscriptions overlaid in gold. The blade chiselled with grooves in five sections and overlaid with more inscriptions in Persian. The Persian inscriptions on the blade refer to Sohrab Khan Bahadur Talpar (d.1830), the founder of the Talpar dynasty.
The hilt made of iron and covered with gold with a tassel attached. The scabbard made of wood and leather, with enamelled gold mounts inlaid with emeralds, pearls and rubies. A velvet belt attached to the scabbard thickly embroidered with gold wire known as zardozi embroidery. The scabbard contains a scabbard knife with a mother-of-pearl handle, mounted in gold and set with emeralds.
The court of Khairpur, in modern-day Pakistan, shared close artistic links with the Iranian courts. This is demonstrated by the pink and purple hued enamelled mounts, which is in contemporary Iranian style and the rulers of Khairpur employed Iranian craftsmen.
Provenance
Presented to King Edward VII, when Prince of Wales, during his tour of India in 1875-76 by Ali Murad Khan I Talpur, Amir of Khairpur.
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Creator(s)
(maker)(nationality)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Steel, gold, mother of pearl, iron, rubies, emeralds, pearls. fabric and cord
Measurements
127.6 x 8.6 x 6.0 cm (whole object)
98.6 x 8.6 x 6.0 cm (excluding loop, tassel etc.)
Category