A fine Mughal style gem-set gold tulwar hilt Indiathe circular pommel of slightly convex form with central domed boss held in place by screw with domed finial, the cross-guards of flaring form, profusely engraved and inlaid with rubies, emeralds and paste to each side with floral interlace, the cross-guards with fish-scale design, gold tested as 21-23 carat, in fitted box 16.5 cm. long; 316 g.FootnotesProvenance The Al Thani Collection. Published Amin Jaffer and Amina Taha-Hussein Okada, From the Great Mughals to the Maharajahs, Paris, 2017, pp. 268-9, no. 201. Tesori dei Moghul e Maharaja. La Collezione Al Thani, exh. cat., The Doge's Palace, Venice, 2018, p. 286, no. 197. Amin Jaffer (ed.), Treasures from the Al Thani Collection, vol. 1, Beijing, 2018, p. 301, no. 201. Exhibited From the Great Mughals to the Maharajahs, Grand Palais, Paris, 29 March - 5 June, 2017. Treasures of the Mughals and the Maharajahs, The Doge's Palace, Venice, 9 September 2017 - 3 January 2018. Treasures from the Al Thani Collection, The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, 17 April 2018 - 18 June 2018. This hilt follows in the tradition of those found on a typically Indian sword known as a tulwar, depictions of which can be found on wall paintings such as those in the Ajanta caves, dating to the 5th Century. Hilts of the type after which the present lot is fashioned appear frequently in paintings from the reign of Emperor Jahangir, indicating his reign to be the origin of this form. For further discussion see S. Kaoukji, Precious Indian Weapons and other Princely Accoutrement, London, 2017. Our tulwar hilt matches the work of the High Mughal period. The Mughal period embodied a fascination with nature, with Emperor Jahangir particularly expressing a keen interest, being an animal lover and student of natural history; the details and designs of flowers in the surface of hilts, as seen beautifully replicated in the present lot, are often recognisable as individual species. For further discussion see W. Blunt, 'The Mughal Painters of Natural History', The Burlington Magazine, Vol. 90, No. 539, Feb 1948, pp. 48-50. Comparable jewelled lotus flower designs can be found on the pommel of a dagger in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (1984.332).
A fine Mughal style gem-set gold tulwar hilt Indiathe circular pommel of slightly convex form with central domed boss held in place by screw with domed finial, the cross-guards of flaring form, profusely engraved and inlaid with rubies, emeralds and paste to each side with floral interlace, the cross-guards with fish-scale design, gold tested as 21-23 carat, in fitted box 16.5 cm. long; 316 g.FootnotesProvenance The Al Thani Collection. Published Amin Jaffer and Amina Taha-Hussein Okada, From the Great Mughals to the Maharajahs, Paris, 2017, pp. 268-9, no. 201. Tesori dei Moghul e Maharaja. La Collezione Al Thani, exh. cat., The Doge's Palace, Venice, 2018, p. 286, no. 197. Amin Jaffer (ed.), Treasures from the Al Thani Collection, vol. 1, Beijing, 2018, p. 301, no. 201. Exhibited From the Great Mughals to the Maharajahs, Grand Palais, Paris, 29 March - 5 June, 2017. Treasures of the Mughals and the Maharajahs, The Doge's Palace, Venice, 9 September 2017 - 3 January 2018. Treasures from the Al Thani Collection, The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, 17 April 2018 - 18 June 2018. This hilt follows in the tradition of those found on a typically Indian sword known as a tulwar, depictions of which can be found on wall paintings such as those in the Ajanta caves, dating to the 5th Century. Hilts of the type after which the present lot is fashioned appear frequently in paintings from the reign of Emperor Jahangir, indicating his reign to be the origin of this form. For further discussion see S. Kaoukji, Precious Indian Weapons and other Princely Accoutrement, London, 2017. Our tulwar hilt matches the work of the High Mughal period. The Mughal period embodied a fascination with nature, with Emperor Jahangir particularly expressing a keen interest, being an animal lover and student of natural history; the details and designs of flowers in the surface of hilts, as seen beautifully replicated in the present lot, are often recognisable as individual species. For further discussion see W. Blunt, 'The Mughal Painters of Natural History', The Burlington Magazine, Vol. 90, No. 539, Feb 1948, pp. 48-50. Comparable jewelled lotus flower designs can be found on the pommel of a dagger in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (1984.332).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
