The flowers on the tulwar hilts

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 1st February 2017, 08:52 AM

Here is an interesting painting depicting Dara Shikoh with Mystics;from The Agha Khan Museum.

Please see https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/collec...prince-mystics

It is worth considering that this relationship would eventually cause his death sentence carried out by Aurangzeb. It is fascinating that Dara had fused the two religions of Islam and Hinduism into one form. Hindu decorative style would be influenced by floral art for centuries and become apparent in architecture, weaponry and virtually all forms of artistic work in the entire universal Hindu pallet of arts...In fact this was not always the case..Jahangir’s passion for natural history was not inherited by his son Shah Jahan and grandson Dara Shikoh. It was during the 1630s that flowers and floral arrangements with their decorative possibilities came to dominate Mughal textiles and the adornment of architecture and album pages. See http://blogs.bl.uk/asian-and-african/mughal-india/

Is there a secretive subtext in the apparent use of Floral motifs in Mughal weaponry? What would have been the outcome had he survived and inherited the Mughal Dynasty?

Jens Nordlunde · 5th February 2017, 04:46 PM

The sword hilts were decorated in different ways. Some had a flat decoration, while others had a chiselled decoration. Others had a combination of both, as can be seen in the picture below.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 6th February 2017, 12:04 PM

http://atkinson-swords.com/sword-mak...on/decoration/ goes some way to discuss the different decorative techniques. The author also references Forum library with Inlay, koftgari, repousse, chasing and neillo which I assume is the thread at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=neillo

As usual a picture being worth 1000 words here is a fine example described as ~

Talwar; gilt metal hilt engraved with foliate decoration; knucklebow with chevron pattern; pommel with scalloped edge, fitted with swivel with red and gold woven wrist strap; steel back-edged blade with deep fuller on face, with gilt inscriptions.

Provenance
One of Tipu Sultan's favourite blades; belonged to his father Hyder Ali Khan.

1st February 2017, 08:52 AM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Here is an interesting painting depicting Dara Shikoh with Mystics;from The Agha Khan Museum. Please see https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/collec...prince-mystics It is worth considering that this relationship would eventually cause his death sentence carried out by Aurangzeb. It is fascinating that Dara had fused the two religions of Islam and Hinduism into one form. Hindu decorative style would be influenced by floral art for centuries and become apparent in architecture, weaponry and virtually all forms of artistic work in the entire universal Hindu pallet of arts...In fact this was not always the case..Jahangir’s passion for natural history was not inherited by his son Shah Jahan and grandson Dara Shikoh. It was during the 1630s that flowers and floral arrangements with their decorative possibilities came to dominate Mughal textiles and the adornment of architecture and album pages. See http://blogs.bl.uk/asian-and-african/mughal-india/ Is there a secretive subtext in the apparent use of Floral motifs in Mughal weaponry? What would have been the outcome had he survived and inherited the Mughal Dynasty? Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 1st February 2017 at 10:12 AM.

5th February 2017, 04:46 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	The sword hilts were decorated in different ways. Some had a flat decoration, while others had a chiselled decoration. Others had a combination of both, as can be seen in the picture below. Attached Images

6th February 2017, 12:04 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	http://atkinson-swords.com/sword-mak...on/decoration/ goes some way to discuss the different decorative techniques. The author also references Forum library with Inlay, koftgari, repousse, chasing and neillo which I assume is the thread at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=neillo As usual a picture being worth 1000 words here is a fine example described as ~ Talwar; gilt metal hilt engraved with foliate decoration; knucklebow with chevron pattern; pommel with scalloped edge, fitted with swivel with red and gold woven wrist strap; steel back-edged blade with deep fuller on face, with gilt inscriptions. Provenance One of Tipu Sultan's favourite blades; belonged to his father Hyder Ali Khan. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 6th February 2017 at 12:24 PM.