Saber (Talwar) with Scabbard

Unknown

blade, dated A.H. 835/1673 CE; hilt, 19th century · Steel, silver, diamonds enamel, leather · Arms and Armor

The blade, of European manufacture around 1600, was inlaid later in gold. Along the back edge, there is an inscription in Arabic and Persian, and on the outer side, there is a parasol. The inscription mentions the name of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (reigned 1658–1717) and the sixteenth year of his reign, corresponding to 1673. The parasol is an ancient symbol of the dome of heaven and was long used in the Middle East and India as a symbol of royal authority. A parasol mark on a blade thus signifies royal provenance and implies that the weapon belonged to a divinely appointed and protected monarch, in this case Emperor Aurangzeb.

Artist

Unknown

Date

blade, dated A.H. 835/1673 CE; hilt, 19th century

Medium

Steel, silver, diamonds enamel, leather

Culture

Indian

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935