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Sword: O.82-1879

Object information

Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Forward angled, single edged heavy steel blade of almost flat section, with stepped finial at the back and a narrow section by the hilt. The hilt has a stepped steel block, then a horn grip chequered and narrowing to the pommel, which is also of horn, large and kite-shaped, with a small tang button at the back with a domed silver washer. There is a hole at the end if the grip by the pommel, through which is a decorative red cord and tassel. The sides of the pommel are carved with a zigzag ornament

Legal notes

Given by Robert Taylor, MA

Measurements and weight

Blade Length: 37 cm
Blade Width Max: 9.1 cm
Overall Length: 52.5 cm
Weight: 800 g

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1879) by Taylor, Robert, MA

Dating

19th Century
Circa 1800 CE - 1879 CE

Note

Compare the ayudha katti in the Royal Armouries XXVIS.241 (see documentation Richardson 2007) of exactly the same type. The belts O.184–5.1879 belong to this ayudha katti and the previous.

This type of sword was carried by the peoples of Curg (Coorg or Kodagu) on the Malabar Coast. Unlike almost all other swords it has no scabbard but was carried on the back by a belt through which it passed through a flattened brass ring.

Components of the work

Blade composed of steel

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 82
  • Method of creation: Inscribed
  • Type: Tag

Inscription present: adhesive

  • Text: 82
  • Location: On the hilt
  • Method of creation: Printed
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: O.82-1879
Primary reference Number: 158392
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 12 May 2021 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Sword" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/158392 Accessed: 2024-11-08 05:50:08

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/158392 |title=Sword |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-08 05:50:08|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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