Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Very Interesting Indian sword for discussion

Jens Nordlunde · 21st February 2005, 05:14 PM

I seem to remember that I have seen heads like the one on the pommel before, described as lion heads, but I have no reference – I am sorry.
As to the head on the hand guard. I have a feeling that it could well be a swans head, as I some time back read about swans – only I did not take much notice, and now I can’t remember where I read it, but it could have been in François Bernier’s ‘Travels in the Mogul Empire AD 1656-1668’.
The decoration on the hilt could be a geometrical pattern, or it could be stylized flowers. Flowers, like Lilies, Lotuses, Roses, Chrysanthemum Indicum and many others, were used a lot for decoration on hilts and in other places. When ordering a hilt, you went to a gold smith, where you from drawings on palm leaves, could chose the decoration you liked best.
What do you think the decoration on this hilt is, geometrical or stylized flowers?

21st February 2005, 05:14 PM	#29
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I seem to remember that I have seen heads like the one on the pommel before, described as lion heads, but I have no reference – I am sorry. As to the head on the hand guard. I have a feeling that it could well be a swans head, as I some time back read about swans – only I did not take much notice, and now I can’t remember where I read it, but it could have been in François Bernier’s ‘Travels in the Mogul Empire AD 1656-1668’. The decoration on the hilt could be a geometrical pattern, or it could be stylized flowers. Flowers, like Lilies, Lotuses, Roses, Chrysanthemum Indicum and many others, were used a lot for decoration on hilts and in other places. When ordering a hilt, you went to a gold smith, where you from drawings on palm leaves, could chose the decoration you liked best. What do you think the decoration on this hilt is, geometrical or stylized flowers?