Quote:
Originally Posted by ariel
Why the sarcasm?
A Forumite showed pics, honestly described the story and politely requested help.
A condescending snark was not asked for and was not deserved.
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My question (in any case not sarcasm) was not addressed to the author of the topic. My question to participants who began to admire an item that is a souvenir.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ariel
These items date from the end of 19 to the beginning of 20 century. They are ceremonial. They might have been produced as tourist items, but Oliver Pinchot in his book of the late R. Wagner collection had shown a khanda with very similar decorations. In his comment, items of such decorative abundance were produced for the Dehli durbars ( 1877,1903,1911), all-India assemblies at the coronations of British Kings, them being also The Emperors of India. Every Rajah brought a retinue armed to the teeth with very "show-y" weapons. Theatrical? Historical? Depends on the point of view of a collector.
Unless you are specifically interested in the battle-proven weapons, these shields and kora reflect prevailing trends in Indian arms culture of that time.
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I'm surprised how can compare the elegant sword from the collection of Wagner and rough souvenir sword that we are discussing.