Lot 33 , A fine Indian gilt copper and paste mounted sword (shamshir), Kutch, 19th century, sword 79cm long, scabbard 75cm long

A fine Indian gilt copper and paste mounted sword (shamshir), Kutch, 19th century, with bejewelled horse head hilt, the scabbard with unusual chased decoration of huntsman, lions, hounds and deer, the reverse with floral scrolls, the damascened blade with floral trellis pattern decoration,

cf. Bonhams London, New Bond Street, Islamic and Indian art sale,
8 April 2014, lot 168 for a similar sword with a lion head hilt.
Comparison can be drawn with a pair of swords in the Clive Collection, Powis Castle (Mildred Archer, Christopher Rowley and Robert Skelton, eds., Treasures from India. The Clive Collection at Powis Castle, National Trust, 1987, pp. 52-3, no. 48); for a similar sword belonging to Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Bowser (1749-1833) sold Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art, 7 October 2010, lot 371; a sword sold at Sotheby's (Arts of the Islamic World, 3rd October 2012, lot 226); and a sword in the National Museum, Delhi (Jaiwant Paul, Arms and Armour: Traditional Weapons of India, Delhi, 2005, pp. 135-36). sword 79cm long, scabbard 75cm long
£4,000-6,000

Condition:
Honest condition with a number of minor scattered flaws and small losses, in particular some of the jewelling has been lost to the hilt and raised ears to the horses head are missing, the blade is oxidised and a little rubbed with some small nicks and dents, scabbard oxidised in places with a slight separation at the join of the second join down.

Sold for £4,000