TANJORE, SOUTH INDIA, LATE 17TH CENTURY

A closely related hilt, fixed onto a straight European sword blade is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (No.36.25.1315, Robert Elgood, Hindu Arms and Rituals, Chicago, 2004, cat.8.67, p.100). The downturned quillons are said to be the result of Deccani influence but this type of hilts is typical of Tanjore and of Hindu arms. Another related dagger, with a grip and pommel modelled as a yali attributed to 17th century Tanjore is published in Robert Hales, Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour, a Lifetime’s Passion (2013, cat.162, p.76). In the present dagger however, the knuckle-guard ends in a yali’s head whilst the published example has a lotus bud as a finial. See also another hilt in the Raja of Tanjore’s private collection, dated to the 17th or 18th century (Elgood, op.cit., cat.8.64, p.99.