An Indian sword (firangi) with European steel blade, 17th/18th century, with a fine scabbard signed by Ram Dakhs Sanwat, India, Alwar, Rajasthan, dated 1856

with closed basket hilt, velvet-lined and decorated in koftgari, a straight, cut-and-thrust imported Portuguese blade with shallow grooves, discoidal pommel and curved top-spike, the forte decorated in gold with an extending palmette, the blade with a Devanagari inscription, worn and illegible, the scabbard chased and worked with high relief figural and floral designs, signed and dated

Sotheby’s, London, 25 May 2005, lot 83.
By repute, the Nizam of Hyderabad, most probably received as a gift from the Hindu court of Alwar in Rajasthan, circa 1856.

The velvet inside hilt probably a later replacement, some tears and minor wear, the gold decoration on hilt with few sections rubbed off, some oxidisation, the blade with minor patches of oxidization and discoloration, few nicks, the scabbard in generally good condition, slightly bent to opening, minor wear to tip, slight discoloration around carved decoration, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This magnificent sword with its imported Portuguese blade and Hindu basket-type hilt, characterised by velvet padding, is a superlative example of the Indian Firangi. The expression Firangi or Franj is derived from the European 'Frank'. Franj, as a blanket term denotes all Europeans regardless of their national identity, and had been coined in the Islamic world since the medieval period. However, from the sixteenth century onwards in India the term had developed from its original connotation into a reference to anything foreign, whether man or object.

In this case the term refers specifically to a sword with a closed hilt and an imported straight blade. These were largely exported to India by the Portuguese, although local armourers were known to produce their own imitations preferring the European style to the indigenous curved blade. Used mostly in the Mahratta empire, such blades were often mounted in the local style, with the discoidal pommel, curved top spike and flanged quillons exhibited here.

The spine of the scabbard is signed by the maker 'Ram Dakhs Sanwat, in Alwar in the year 1856', and is decorated in relief with scenes from Hindu and Jain mythology. Of the twenty-six intricately detailed cartouches the first shows Ganesh and Shiva, and the following show the ten avatara or incarnations of the god Vishnu: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalki. Two further scenes are depicted on the same side of the scabbard showing Viasmuni and Kamadhenu. The other side of the scabbard includes the following scenes: Ravana, Shiva and Parvati; Bima, one of the Pandava brothers from the Mahabharata; Brahma and Hamsa-vahana; a Jain tirthankara or saint; a scene of butter offering between two women; Rishba, a Jain saint; Haigrava; Vishnu, Garuda the kite vehicle and Lakshmi, goddess of fortune; Kubera, god of wealth and the underworld; a Jain saint; the sage Vishvamitra; Kapilmuni, a Hindu saint; and finally a scene with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. A peacock flares its tail at the bottom of the chape, whilst both sides are beautifully worked with a floral design.