A Unique Curved Patissa

CharlesS · 3rd June 2010, 08:42 PM

This is one of the most unique Indian patissas I have seen. The blade is single edged and just slightly curved, being more noticable on the spine than the edge. The huge hilt is decorated in silver koftgari and the forte is decorated with a variety of Indian gods and goddesses in silver as well. The blade is good Indian crystaline damascus wootz with a lap weld where two practically identical wootz ingots were welded together; this likely was originally polished to be virtually invisible. The thin fuller is decorated with gold floral koftgari. There is an even thinner fuller above it, also decorated in gold koftgari, almost all of which is long gone. The scabbard is new.

Battara · 4th June 2010, 07:12 AM

What nice work. Quite unique.

dralin23 · 6th June 2010, 01:00 PM

hi charles,
an very intresting and beautifull sword.
i found an similar one at an older auction by hermann historica . it is the 57. auction from the 23 apr. 2009 lot nr 2952. there was also such an patissa sword offered. the fullers are there also decorated with koftgari work and i think at the pictures i see also an very light curvature in the fullers from these sword.
best wishes send you stefan
Hermann Historica

Hermann Historica

Jim McDougall · 9th June 2010, 03:29 AM

interesting piece..might be kirach..not pattisa..might be bidri work

CharlesS · 9th June 2010, 02:03 PM

Jim,

Why do you say "kirach" here? I don't see it, at least not one along traditional lines.

Just curious.

Jim McDougall · 9th June 2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Jim,

Why do you say "kirach" here? I don't see it, at least not one along traditional lines.

Just curious.

Quid pro quo, I was wondering what made you think it was a patissa

In the nebulous world of sword nomenclature and terminology, especially in India, the 'pattisa' ranks in the top ten mysterious contenders.

While Rawson completely overlooks the term, and puts all of these with 'khandas', Pant clarifies (?) by noting these are from South India and double edge, with the flared 'spatulate' tip. Typically these are in the Hindu baskethilt type mounts with the long seatings central on the blade nearly to mid point. The broadsword 'pattisa' is extremely flexible blade, and with the spatulate tip, is probably in some degree associated with the sword techniques favored by Mahrattas, slashing cuts. This is much the same as seen in Omani swordplay, with the kattara broadswords.
Many of these are from Malabar, the western coastal Indian regions with considerable Arab colonization and trade.

This example seems to be 19th century, and with the silverwork of the Bidri type (from Kerala regions originally but dispersed into Rajasthan, this may be Deccani).

The blade tip on this single edged sword, in which the curve is ever so slight, has what may best be described as a 'classical' type point, reflecting varied much earlier swords that are single edged, some of them even with a diamond 'lozenge' type point (Ajanta). Some of the spear tip angular points are termed 'shilagra' in Sanskrit.
The term 'kirach' is typically used for the straight blade tulwar, whose single edged blade is noted often as 'almost' straight.

Thanks for the opportunity to discuss, nice sword!!!

3rd June 2010, 08:42 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	A Unique Curved Patissa This is one of the most unique Indian patissas I have seen. The blade is single edged and just slightly curved, being more noticable on the spine than the edge. The huge hilt is decorated in silver koftgari and the forte is decorated with a variety of Indian gods and goddesses in silver as well. The blade is good Indian crystaline damascus wootz with a lap weld where two practically identical wootz ingots were welded together; this likely was originally polished to be virtually invisible. The thin fuller is decorated with gold floral koftgari. There is an even thinner fuller above it, also decorated in gold koftgari, almost all of which is long gone. The scabbard is new. Attached Images Last edited by CharlesS; 3rd June 2010 at 09:17 PM.

4th June 2010, 07:12 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	What nice work. Quite unique.

9th June 2010, 03:29 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,760	interesting piece..might be kirach..not pattisa..might be bidri work

9th June 2010, 02:03 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Jim, Why do you say "kirach" here? I don't see it, at least not one along traditional lines. Just curious.