Indian Tulwar: important?
We all remember chapter 12 In the Elgood's book on Hindu arms : "Four Important 16th or early 17th century South Indian Swords".
One of them is a tulwar with a European blade and it's importance is due entirely to the handle: bowl-shaped with protruding baluster. Elgood associates it with urulis ( cooking vessel), purna kalasa ( bowl of plenty, which is a symbol of Durga) or islamic divining bowls. For us, simple people, it is reminescent of the Sumatran piso podangs. Photo from the book included for easy reference.
I just got a very nice tulwar with an unusually thick blade, yelman and some decorations on the blade. But the handle was what intrigued me: an identical copy of the "important" one.
So, my question: are those indeed rare? Is my sword also important? :-)
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