A RARE SOUTH INDIAN SWORD (KHANDA), 17TH CENTURY

A RARE SOUTH INDIAN SWORD (KHANDA), 17TH CENTURY with broad double-edged blade of wootz steel swelling to a 'Cobra's head' tip (small chips), engraved steel hilt formed with a pair of shaped langets decorated with scrolling foliage and extending over almost a third of the blade's length on each side, the portion at the forte widening and down-curved with blade-catching lugs, dish-guard formed of a pair of curved D-shaped panels of V-section, the outer surface forming a pair of additional blade-catching lugs en suite and engraved with a foliage around the border, engraved up-turned cup-shaped pommel (now open at the top), solid grip engraved with lines, and with some red pigment throughout (the hilt with areas of pitting), 85.0 cm blade Roy Elvis Catalogue Number C121. Two related examples of this distinctive type were sold in this room, 7th December 2022, lots 5 and 6.