Unusual Indian Hindu Gods Dagger?

VANDOO · 17th December 2008, 06:33 PM

SUPERB WORKMANSHIP ON THE HANDLE

IN THE THIRD PICTURE THE COLOR OF THE STONES APPEARS TO BE PROPER FOR RUBIES OFTEN USED IN SIRI LANKA, IN OTHER CLOSER PICTURES THEY LOOK MORE LIKE GARNET COLOR. I HAVE SEEN ONE PIECE FROM SIRI LANKA (CEYLON) WITH SILVER AND GOLD WORK OF THIS QUALITY SO THAT QUALITY OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE SO IT IS A POSSIBLE ORIGIN.
THE KNIFE BLADE IS NOT THE USUAL FORM SO PERHAPS IT WAS CUSTOM MADE FOR A FORIGNER OF HIGH RANK BY HIS ORDER OR FOR PRESENTATION.
CONGRADULATIONS ITS A BEAUTY

Atlantia · 17th December 2008, 07:29 PM

OMG its beautiful. I am speechless. If you ever need a kidney, I will gladly swap you one for it.

The 'face of Glory' Makara, is like the ones on my temple bowl:

Battara · 17th December 2008, 08:30 PM

Never seen a piece like this - it is wonderous. Yes I too think it is Sri Lankan.

Atlantia · 17th December 2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Never seen a piece like this - it is wonderous. Yes I too think it is Sri Lankan.

Yes, I meant to add I also agree with the Sri-Lankan origin.

RSWORD · 18th December 2008, 01:21 PM

The handle kind of reminds me of Burmese or Thai carved ivory handles where all the figures/faces are tightly grouped together.

spiral · 18th December 2008, 06:05 PM

Thank you chaps for your comments & input, I agree it is a wonderous piece & Sri Lanken does seem most likely to me.

I ran throught the same analisis styles I think RSword!

Thats what made me wonder about the Archipeligo as well!

But saying that the handle shape,construction & floral work is very phia katta in style I think, I was thrown by the handguard & straight blade though.
I did wonder if blade was later but cant imagine a khanjar type blade with this guard though? Also the condition of handle is near perfect so doesnt imply a blade change would be neccasary for such an obviously cared for piece.

If this handle is that similar to a phia katta I guess for its quality it takes the age range back a very long way?

Vandoo the stones do appear nearest the colour shown in the third photo , { the colour of the red velvet backing is also most accurate in that photo.}although one is darker than the others. The gold ring & floral backing behind the guard appear to be solid gold not gilt. What type of piece did you see that reminds you of this one?

The guard appears to be a light colored brass possibly once gilded. The joined heads & hands feature is gilded, the majority of the handle is silver , the finial appears to be gold but not as pure as the ring.

This piece still posses more questians I think, but either way I am glad I found it! I wonder where its scabbard is today?

Anyone aware of the meaningof the 4 men with interlocked arms?

Spiral

Atlantia · 22nd December 2008, 02:07 AM

Sorry, I just wanted another look and thought it deserves a BUMP.

I've asked Santa if he can find one like it for me......

Cant be much help on the ornamentation, but the 'face of glory' Makara mask is an interesting field of study on its own.
I really love the bowl I have so delved into the image a little and found an interesting site whre a chap has traced the 'Greem Man' image back through history and has conjectured a link to the Makara image (which seems lieky IMHO). Have alook at the page, or at least the one that covers the 'green man' in India. Searching on the Makara image might be a starting point for the other parts of the design, google face of glory, makara etc and see if you come acropss any other designs that show similarities?

green man/makara page

17th December 2008, 06:33 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	SUPERB WORKMANSHIP ON THE HANDLE IN THE THIRD PICTURE THE COLOR OF THE STONES APPEARS TO BE PROPER FOR RUBIES OFTEN USED IN SIRI LANKA, IN OTHER CLOSER PICTURES THEY LOOK MORE LIKE GARNET COLOR. I HAVE SEEN ONE PIECE FROM SIRI LANKA (CEYLON) WITH SILVER AND GOLD WORK OF THIS QUALITY SO THAT QUALITY OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE SO IT IS A POSSIBLE ORIGIN. THE KNIFE BLADE IS NOT THE USUAL FORM SO PERHAPS IT WAS CUSTOM MADE FOR A FORIGNER OF HIGH RANK BY HIS ORDER OR FOR PRESENTATION. CONGRADULATIONS ITS A BEAUTY

17th December 2008, 07:29 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	OMG its beautiful. I am speechless. If you ever need a kidney, I will gladly swap you one for it. The 'face of Glory' Makara, is like the ones on my temple bowl:

17th December 2008, 08:30 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Never seen a piece like this - it is wonderous. Yes I too think it is Sri Lankan.

18th December 2008, 01:21 PM	#5
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,086	The handle kind of reminds me of Burmese or Thai carved ivory handles where all the figures/faces are tightly grouped together.

18th December 2008, 06:05 PM	#6
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thank you chaps for your comments & input, I agree it is a wonderous piece & Sri Lanken does seem most likely to me. I ran throught the same analisis styles I think RSword! Thats what made me wonder about the Archipeligo as well! But saying that the handle shape,construction & floral work is very phia katta in style I think, I was thrown by the handguard & straight blade though. I did wonder if blade was later but cant imagine a khanjar type blade with this guard though? Also the condition of handle is near perfect so doesnt imply a blade change would be neccasary for such an obviously cared for piece. If this handle is that similar to a phia katta I guess for its quality it takes the age range back a very long way? Vandoo the stones do appear nearest the colour shown in the third photo , { the colour of the red velvet backing is also most accurate in that photo.}although one is darker than the others. The gold ring & floral backing behind the guard appear to be solid gold not gilt. What type of piece did you see that reminds you of this one? The guard appears to be a light colored brass possibly once gilded. The joined heads & hands feature is gilded, the majority of the handle is silver , the finial appears to be gold but not as pure as the ring. This piece still posses more questians I think, but either way I am glad I found it! I wonder where its scabbard is today? Anyone aware of the meaningof the 4 men with interlocked arms? Spiral

22nd December 2008, 02:07 AM	#7
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Sorry, I just wanted another look and thought it deserves a BUMP. I've asked Santa if he can find one like it for me...... Cant be much help on the ornamentation, but the 'face of glory' Makara mask is an interesting field of study on its own. I really love the bowl I have so delved into the image a little and found an interesting site whre a chap has traced the 'Greem Man' image back through history and has conjectured a link to the Makara image (which seems lieky IMHO). Have alook at the page, or at least the one that covers the 'green man' in India. Searching on the Makara image might be a starting point for the other parts of the design, google face of glory, makara etc and see if you come acropss any other designs that show similarities? green man/makara page