GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Swords were long a part of military attire for Indian soldiers and elite men. By the 19th century when this hilt was made, swords were less used for military purposes than they were symbols of pride and chivalry. Painted portraits or photographs of elite Indian males in the late 19th through early 20th centuries almost inevitably depict them wearing swords, even though guns and rifles had replaced the sword in practical warfare.
Indian enamel workers used both cloisonné and champlevé work. This hilt features polychrome enamel decorations on a bright red enamel base over a gold-colored metal. It bears images of power and strength that are visual metaphors for the role of the sword. On one side of the hilt are medallions of a tiger and a bird that appears to be a goose, a symbol in India of beauty. On the other side a tiger is attacking a bull, while in another cartouche a green bird attacks the goose. The images are placed so that the user of the sword would see them right side up as he brandished his sword. Although no longer attached to the hilt, the original blade would have been slightly curved or straight. Possibly it was made of fine watered steel, a luxury material, giving considerable status to the owner.
Adapted from
Anne Bromberg, The Arts of India, South East Asia, and the Himalayas (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Have: Yale University Press, 2013), 144-145.
NOTES
- on 5/21/18, HAB modified the formatting of this note, as it was in a checklist format used early on in the project. I wrote the rule to the object id, since this is a promised gift, but the Brain link is not active. I am pushing through routing so that when this promised gift becomes active it will show up online.
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General Description
Swords were long a part of military attire for Indian soldiers and elite men. By the 19th century when this hilt was made, swords were less used for military purposes than they were symbols of pride and chivalry. Painted portraits or photographs of elite Indian males in the late 19th through early 20th centuries almost inevitably depict them wearing swords, even though guns and rifles had replaced the sword in practical warfare.
Indian enamel workers used both cloisonné and champlevé work. This hilt features polychrome enamel decorations on a bright red enamel base over a gold-colored metal. It bears images of power and strength that are visual metaphors for the role of the sword. On one side of the hilt are medallions of a tiger and a bird that appears to be a goose, a symbol in India of beauty. On the other side a tiger is attacking a bull, while in another cartouche a green bird attacks the goose. The images are placed so that the user of the sword would see them right side up as he brandished his sword. Although no longer attached to the hilt, the original blade would have been slightly curved or straight. Possibly it was made of fine watered steel, a luxury material, giving considerable status to the owner.
Adapted from
Anne Bromberg, The Arts of India, South East Asia, and the Himalayas (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Have: Yale University Press, 2013), 144-145.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
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Notes
- on 5/21/18, HAB modified the formatting of this note, as it was in a checklist format used early on in the project. I wrote the rule to the object id, since this is a promised gift, but the Brain link is not active. I am pushing through routing so that when this promised gift becomes active it will show up online.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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