INDIA, 19TH CENTURY

The establishment of the British Raj in the middle of the 19th century saw an emergent taste for heavily jewelled and enamelled swords under the notion of shan o shawkat, ‘pomp and splendour’. The rulers of the politically neutralised princely states became the primary patrons for such lavish arms and armour, especially on the occasions of the three imperial durbars of 1877, 1901 and 1911, where they were worn as a reflection of the grandeur of their princely courts. A comparable sword to the present, with a lion’s head pommel and numerous diamonds set against a green ground, was presented to Edward VII when Prince of Wales by Pragmalji II Rao, Maharao of Kutch, during the former’s tour of India in 1875-6 (now in the Royal Collection, Windsor, RCIN 11350).

A similarly decorated British-style children’s dress sword was sold in these Rooms, 10 October 2000, lot 217. Sword fittings, including a hilt with a lion’s head pommel, decorated in a comparable manner were sold in these Rooms, 28 October 2021.