Charles, I agree - very interesting hilt, as well as a beautiful one. The chiselled and silvered Indian hilts are common, but this one is unusual indeed. The majority are cast with decorations then engraved to final finish, some are deeply engraved/chiselled, with silver applications varying in thickness and technique. Yours is very well chiselled with the "sculpted" effect, and silver applied to the raised surface to create that 3-D effect. The pattern is also quite unusual, not a typical Indian, with some European (borocco ribbons?) elements IMHO. A very good quality hilt. Here are a few "more usual" types:
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