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Old 24th April 2009, 08:00 PM   #1
rand
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 538
Default Ceylon Piha-kaetta (?)

This dagger described as a Celonese Piha-Kaetta 17th/18th Century just sold at Bonhams auction, 4/22/09, Sale 16775, Lot 64.

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/publi...aleSectionNo=1

Is certainly a beautiful dagger, what alludes me is a definite attribution to Ceylon. Does anyone have a reference of similar work from Ceylon? All opinions would be appreciated...

Bonhams desription:

"A Fine And Very Rare Ceylonese Piha-Kaetta Hilt
17th/18th Century
With later tapering double-edged blade of slightly hollowed diamond section, hilt comprising later slightly upcurved silver-gilt guard cast and chased with flowerheads and foliage, silver-gilt basal mount cast and chased with scrolling foliage below a border set with small cabochon rubies (one missing), and slightly curved rounded silver grip (three small panels missing) cast and chased with scrollwork and foliage involving two female Hindu deities on each side above and below a central gilt roundel of female demi-figures grasping each others wrists, swelling pommel cast and chased each side with a winged cherub's head of European influence between monster masks, and surmounted by a small gold button
17.8 cm. blade, 10 cm. hilt"


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