Gold-coated steel Katar (punch dagger) - Lot 379

Lot n° 379
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Estimation :
10000 - 20000 EUR
Gold-coated steel Katar (punch dagger) - Lot 379
Gold-coated steel Katar (punch dagger) Deccan, India, 16th century L. 53.5 cm Steel katar (punch dagger) overlaid with gold Deccan, India, 16th century L. 21 in 1045 CH Provenance : - Butterfield & Butterfields, The Dr. Leo S. Figiel Collection of Mogul Arms, San Francisco, August 24, 1998, lot 2132. Fitted with a cut European sword blade, as was the fashion in late 16th and early 17th century South India, this India, this example is believed to have originated in the Deccan region. The blade is attached to an elliptical guard by means of two splints. The handle is of classical design, with flared side arms ending in cusped arches, and a pair of shaped grip bars. Almost all the surfaces of the guard are chiselled in relief with Islamic calligraphy, including the thin lateral profiles of the side bars, representing a remarkable work of art: The basmala, the quatrain Nadi 'Ali and part of the Qur'an 61:13 (in part) appear on the outside of the side bars and continue on the inside. The thin sides of the arms feature a prayer in Arabic. On the horizontal bars extending between the arms are the basmala and the Qur'an 61:13 (in part), both repeated, as well as the invocation ya 'Ali (O 'Ali!). On the underside of the hilt is the basmala. On the blade, starting with side A and continuing with side B: la fata illa 'ali la sayf / illa dhu'l-faqar allah There is no hero other than 'Ali, no sword other than Dhu'l-faqar. God Gold enhances the calligraphy and covers the undecorated parts of the handles, the underside of the handguard being adorned with a scale pattern. One of the side bars is almost completely corroded, with further traces of corrosion on the splints and blade. 32 cm blade. A very similar example is preserved in the Al- Sabah collection (inv.no.LNS 273M), see Kaoukji, Precious Indian Weapons and other Princely Accoutrements, 2017, p.30-33. The blade straps and a side bar on the outer face and edges are heavily corroded to the point that only a small part of the inscription on these faces is now legible. The blade is also heavily corroded. The gold of the diapers, the underside of the gardemain is worn and other parts are also damaged.
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