This is Northern Indian work, with a lot of stylistic juxtaposition. It's hilted in the Persian style but with more Central Asian-type leather-covered wooden grips. The blade has both Persian (lack of broadened ricasso and lenticular section) and Ottoman (distinct yelman or backedge) influence, as well as some sort of profiling to the spine. The brass inlay emulates inscriptions and perhaps fullering. It probably dates in the first half of the 19th century, getting on toward 1850. Swords of this type are often associated with Sind and Afghanistan.
|