A STEEL PUSH-DAGGER (KATAR), PROBABLY TANJORE, SOUTH INDIA, 17TH CENTURY

The broad blade with a series of converging ridges and a slightly swollen tip, the elongated forte chased in relief with vegetal forms and palmettes, the hilt with a scroll-form guard with a yali-head terminal, decorated throughout with pierced designs of a double-headed winged beast flanked by two pairs of elephants enclosed within vegetal and floral scrolls, the sidebars each with an openwork design of a yali in a cusped medallion raised on flowering stems, bestial head motifs at the base, the interior with a formal quatrefoil motif, the grip also with openwork details formed as two conjoined lotus blossoms halved down their centre by a string of disc designs, traces of copper on the surface of the hilt

In overal good condition with few small erosion stains across the blade, and some very little abrasion on the handle, 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."

The extraordinarily elaborate openwork designs on the hilt of this dagger are characteristic of a group of edged weapons associated with the South Indian city of Tanjore. The form of the katar allows for a particularly full expression of this style of decoration. A number of katars from this group and their evolution from the late16th to early 17th century are discussed by Elgood (Elgood 2004, pp.145-162). One of these, a katar without a guard in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has related decoration and a grip of very similar form including the series of discs running along its centre (Elgood 2004, p.161, no.15.37). The cupped mount for the blade that is employed on the present katar is another characteristic shared by the group.