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Lot Essay
Inscriptions:
On the left hand side of the barrel in cursive script, 'Sarkar Mir 'Ali Murad Khan Talpur, help O 'Ali!'
The Talpurs were known as connoisseurs of fine weapons, including guns and swords. The inscription on the barrel of this rifle reveals that the gun was made for Mir ‘Ali Murad Khan Talpur (b. 1815), one of the ruling Amirs of Khairpur province, in Upper Sind. Mir ‘Ali Murad Khan Talpur, brother of the senior Amir at Khairpur, Mir Rustam Khan, was described by Thomas Postans, writing in 1843, as having ‘unbounded ambition and great tact combined with considerable talent’, while holding himself aloof from interference in his affairs and was ‘consistent and unswerving in his purpose of independence and aggrandizement’. Mir ‘Ali Murad became closely linked to the British shortly before the annexation of Sind. Khairpur province remained independent after General Sir Charles Napier commanding the British forces had defeated the Talpurs at the battles of Miyani and Duppa in 1843 (AH 1259) and subsequently annexed Sind. Because of his loyalty to the British, Mir ‘Ali Murad was allowed to retain Khairpur and take the title of Ra’is (senior Amir) of Upper Sind. The identification of the inscription on the butt plaque 'Kandawala’ is not clear, but may be the name of an official or perhaps a treasurer. For a detailed account on ‘Mir ‘Ali Murad and the annexation of Sind see Thomas Postans, Personal Observations on Sindh, Sindh, 1843.
Our example is one of a small number of very finely decorated guns made for a few members of the Talpur family. Further known examples include one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 36.25.2152) and two are in the Khalili Collection (David Alexander, The Arts of War, Arms and Armour of the 7th to 19th centuries, London, 1992, 136-138, pp.202-205). Two more examples are now in the al-Thani Collection, Qatar, having been sold at Sotheby's, London, 8 May 1997, lots 72 and 73, see also Treasures of Islam, exhibition catalogue, Geneva, 1985, no.332. Two further examples are noted in the Indian Museum by Lord Egerton of Tatton (An Illustrated Handbook of Indian Arms and Those of Nepal, Burma, Thailand and Malaya, London, 1896, nos.733 and 736, pl.IV and p.139). A few further examples but with considerably less elaborate mounts are also known.
On the left hand side of the barrel in cursive script, 'Sarkar Mir 'Ali Murad Khan Talpur, help O 'Ali!'
The Talpurs were known as connoisseurs of fine weapons, including guns and swords. The inscription on the barrel of this rifle reveals that the gun was made for Mir ‘Ali Murad Khan Talpur (b. 1815), one of the ruling Amirs of Khairpur province, in Upper Sind. Mir ‘Ali Murad Khan Talpur, brother of the senior Amir at Khairpur, Mir Rustam Khan, was described by Thomas Postans, writing in 1843, as having ‘unbounded ambition and great tact combined with considerable talent’, while holding himself aloof from interference in his affairs and was ‘consistent and unswerving in his purpose of independence and aggrandizement’. Mir ‘Ali Murad became closely linked to the British shortly before the annexation of Sind. Khairpur province remained independent after General Sir Charles Napier commanding the British forces had defeated the Talpurs at the battles of Miyani and Duppa in 1843 (AH 1259) and subsequently annexed Sind. Because of his loyalty to the British, Mir ‘Ali Murad was allowed to retain Khairpur and take the title of Ra’is (senior Amir) of Upper Sind. The identification of the inscription on the butt plaque 'Kandawala’ is not clear, but may be the name of an official or perhaps a treasurer. For a detailed account on ‘Mir ‘Ali Murad and the annexation of Sind see Thomas Postans, Personal Observations on Sindh, Sindh, 1843.
Our example is one of a small number of very finely decorated guns made for a few members of the Talpur family. Further known examples include one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 36.25.2152) and two are in the Khalili Collection (David Alexander, The Arts of War, Arms and Armour of the 7th to 19th centuries, London, 1992, 136-138, pp.202-205). Two more examples are now in the al-Thani Collection, Qatar, having been sold at Sotheby's, London, 8 May 1997, lots 72 and 73, see also Treasures of Islam, exhibition catalogue, Geneva, 1985, no.332. Two further examples are noted in the Indian Museum by Lord Egerton of Tatton (An Illustrated Handbook of Indian Arms and Those of Nepal, Burma, Thailand and Malaya, London, 1896, nos.733 and 736, pl.IV and p.139). A few further examples but with considerably less elaborate mounts are also known.