Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jens Nordlunde · 21st October 2005, 03:21 PM

Hi Andy,

You are right, it is not so often one sees a brass tulwar hilt, and to see one with a fish decoration like the one you show, placed on the square (chowk), is even more seldom, but I have seen one not so long ago. The hilt was of steel, covered in a floral decoration in relief with gold koft gari. There were two small silver plates, one on the square with two fish like yours in relief, but without a number, and one higher up on the hilt showing a flower. From the decoration on the hilt, I would say it was from North India.

In Nepal and North India the fish represent the first reincarnation of Vishnu, and is associated directly to him. The fish was worshipped all over India, but in some places more than in others.

21st October 2005, 03:21 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	Hi Andy, You are right, it is not so often one sees a brass tulwar hilt, and to see one with a fish decoration like the one you show, placed on the square (chowk), is even more seldom, but I have seen one not so long ago. The hilt was of steel, covered in a floral decoration in relief with gold koft gari. There were two small silver plates, one on the square with two fish like yours in relief, but without a number, and one higher up on the hilt showing a flower. From the decoration on the hilt, I would say it was from North India. In Nepal and North India the fish represent the first reincarnation of Vishnu, and is associated directly to him. The fish was worshipped all over India, but in some places more than in others.