Subject: sawār cavalry

Culture: Kannada

Setting: Mysore sultanate, south India late 18thc

Object: talwar saber

* Royal Armouries Museum > Oriental Gallery

"Sword (talwar) Indian, Mysore, late 18th century The iron hilt on this sword is typical of the talwar with the addition of a knuckle guard. The back of the blade is decorated with gold koftgari and on either side is a gold umbrella mark." ...

* National Museum of Ireland -- Decorative Arts and History > Soldiers and Chiefs: The Irish at War at Home and Abroad since 1550

"A Trophy Sword The gift of a sword was often used to commemorate a military friendship between officers. This Indian sword was captured on the battlefield of Seringapatam in 1799, and passed to one of the leaders of the British forces, Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington. Wellesley gave it to his brother who in turn presented the weapon (suitably inscribed) to a comrade-in-arms from the 1798 rebellion.

Indian jade-hilted Sword, taken at Serngapatam, 1799" ...