A Most Curious Indian Tulwar with a Latin Cartouche/Crest
 

This Indian tulwar is Indian through and through...the hilt style in a bird motif, the crystalline wootz blade, etc.....with two notable exceptions: 1. The wootz blade shows a very European style crest with the Latin words: "Templa-Quam-Delecta" ....which I have translated as more or less, "The Temple's Selected"...again, more or less...perhaps someone can provide us with a more precise translation.I am most curious to know if anyone is familiar with this crest, and to whom it belongs.

2. Also note that the floral motifs decorating the fittings are not typically Indian floral patterns, but appear to be 3-leaf clovers. These motifs cover both the gilded hilt and the gilded scabbard mounts. I have not seen this in Indian motifs before.

Regarding the wootz blade the wootz is of rather average quality with some forging flaws and probably from an average and impure ingot, certainly not the best of Indian wootz, but not horrible either.

The scabbard is original, but the dry rotted velvet covering has been replaced with the identical cotton velvet color originally on the scabbard.

Dimensions: Overall: 37.5in. Blade length: 31in.

Would love any input on this one....thanks in advance!!!

Hi Charles,
Richard Plantagenet Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, Governor of Madras 1875-1880 amongst other things, pic of his Coat of Arms. See also Stowe House/School and Viscount Cobham. Motto translates as 'How lovely are thy Temples'.
My Regards,
Norman.

DILECTA ... not DELECTA; it makes all the difference ;) .
Browse the Web for the motto and you will be surprised with the multiple results. Surely a British aristrocat having commissioned or being presented a talwar :cool:

Ah ... too late ... and unsufficient :o

Hi Fernando,
Never too late and always more than sufficient. :) ;) :D
My Regards as Always,
Norman.

Thanks so much Norman and Fernando...wow!...that was fast!

I looked up the Latin translation on the web and got a number of translations...most didn't seem to make sense. The one I used in the starter thread was the most sensible to me.

Wow!!! Outstanding example from the British Raj, and Norman, fantastic and quick response!!

Ahhh it surfaces again! Enjoy!

I was amazed when Artzi sold it without spending a few minutes researching its provenance...

Its one of the famous lost treasures of Stowe...

linky for the lost...

Spiral

what a choice weapon,fantastic provenance,lost treasures of stowe thanks for the link,and thanks for sharing a real gem :)

Spiral,

Thanks so much for your input, link, and info. You have turned what appeared to be an average vestige of the British Raj into a real piece of fascinating history.

Thanks again for such enlightening info!

Thank you.... I am always happy to share what bits of knowledge I have, sadly perhaps more often than not its not the best news for many...

I like sharing it much more when its good news though! ;)

Enjoy!

Its a good provenance.... :)

Spiral

Here is another Mughal sword with Latin crest. It is not of same provenance, but I think of the same British Raj concept. What's interesting here is that the blade has similar cartouches on both sides, and there is another, older Islamic cartouche barely visible under the new one on the right side. Thank you for any ideas of origin and potential background!

Is the Latin readable? That's the place to start for the family associated ... then one gets date/rank... from the type of crown used to narrow it down..

Although of the top of my head must say the crown doesn't initially appear British to my eye.

Perhaps a Ranking Indian family that copied the Brit, style latin etc,?

Quite common for maharajah types to use Latin & have fairly European based coats of arms as well...

Spiral