CENTRAL INDIA, 18TH CENTURY

Details

AN ELEGANT CALLIGRAPHIC GOLD-DAMASCENED SWORD (TULWAR) HILT
CENTRAL INDIA, 18TH CENTURY
The tulwar hilt of typical form with a curved knuckle-guard terminating in a makara head, the cross-guard terminals in the form of cusped palmettes, the hilt decorated with gold-damascened naskh set within strapwork borders, the pommel with an elegant dome-shaped finial with an openwork skirt, associated steel blade
Hilt 8in. (20.3cm.) long; with blade 37in. (94cm.) long

Engraved

On the hilt, The bismillah and invocations to attributes of God

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Lot Essay

A similar but slightly less fine calligraphic hilt dated to the 18th century is in the Khalili Collection (inv. MTW 1142; David Alexander, The Arts of War, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, Oxford, 1992, no.131, p.197).

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