tourist item

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Marcus

I attach new pictures of this sword. An unusual, and not very effective, technique was employed to decorate the blade. The surface was scratched and cross hatched. Then it appears that an effort was made to polish letters and images into the roughened surface. The effect is not very striking. It is difficult to bring out the images even by eye, and nearly impossible with photography.

This technique is called "koftgari" and the results can be absolutely stunning.... for high quality workmanship.

[Marcus]

Koft`ga`ri´

Ornamental work produced by inlaying steel with gold, - a variety of damascening much used in the arts of India.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by C. & G. Merriam Co.


There may be a bit of koftgari about the inlays but that would not apply to the gross scoring of the surface.

These are examples of what I would refer to as koftgari.