Decoration on Indian blades

Jim McDougall · 28th January 2005, 01:58 AM

Jens,
Another absolutely beautiful weapon!
The type of blade, the kirach, is especially interesting, especially in ths type hilt. I am inclined to think this is a Rajput weapon and the hilt form corresponds to similar khanjars from Rajasthan.

The decorative motif depicting various animals on the blade is termed 'shikargaha' in India, and seems to derive from Persian craftsmanship in such motif. It is generally presumed that these decorative blades are typically found on blades of 'hunting' swords, as the figures of animals in varying action situations suggest. There are examples with wider range of figures including one with a tiger attacking a mahout (elephant driver), a tiger attacking a horseman, some even with a horseman pursuing a foot soldier.

It was a very common practice in India, at 'durbar', to present gifts of ceremonial weapons to achieved individuals and persons of high status, many which certainly included so called hunting weapons, or as it seems, possibly weapons carrying depictions of events.

Possibly there were certain allegorical themes or totemic symbolisms used in metaphor in many of these wonderfully crafted blades, aside from seemingly random depictions of various animals and figures. Weapons have long been vehicles to carry important iconographic and traditional symbolism in most cultures, regardless of how subtily these messages are carried.

Best regards,
Jim

28th January 2005, 01:58 AM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,195	Jens, Another absolutely beautiful weapon! The type of blade, the kirach, is especially interesting, especially in ths type hilt. I am inclined to think this is a Rajput weapon and the hilt form corresponds to similar khanjars from Rajasthan. The decorative motif depicting various animals on the blade is termed 'shikargaha' in India, and seems to derive from Persian craftsmanship in such motif. It is generally presumed that these decorative blades are typically found on blades of 'hunting' swords, as the figures of animals in varying action situations suggest. There are examples with wider range of figures including one with a tiger attacking a mahout (elephant driver), a tiger attacking a horseman, some even with a horseman pursuing a foot soldier. It was a very common practice in India, at 'durbar', to present gifts of ceremonial weapons to achieved individuals and persons of high status, many which certainly included so called hunting weapons, or as it seems, possibly weapons carrying depictions of events. Possibly there were certain allegorical themes or totemic symbolisms used in metaphor in many of these wonderfully crafted blades, aside from seemingly random depictions of various animals and figures. Weapons have long been vehicles to carry important iconographic and traditional symbolism in most cultures, regardless of how subtily these messages are carried. Best regards, Jim Last edited by Jim McDougall; 28th January 2005 at 02:51 AM.