- 178
A steel and silver-gilt long-bladed gauntlet sword (pata), Southern India, late 17th century
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- steel
the gauntlet, chiselled, pierced and silvered with raised floral scrolls divided into zones by high-relief chevron-pattern and beaded borders, the grip beneath the knuckle-guard consisting of an iron bar at right angles to the long, tapering, double-edged European steel blade, a metal wrist strap or loop with bud finials holds the lower arm securely in the gauntlet, the firangi blade engraved with letters HDAP SMOV (?), with modern display stand
Provenance
Ex-collection Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008).
Sotheby's London, The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Part One: Arts of the Islamic World, 6 April 2011, lot 138.
Sotheby's London, The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Part One: Arts of the Islamic World, 6 April 2011, lot 138.
Condition
Some pitting and patination, corrosion on iron gauntlet with associated loss of silvering, overall fair condition, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
A comparable pata in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, (acc. no.36.25.1565) is attributed by Robert Elgood to the late seventeenth century (Elgood 2004, p.98, no.8.62). A further related example attributed to "Southern India" is in the National Museum, Copenhagen (inv. no. D.866), see Rawson 1967, p.89, no.32.
The straight-bladed pata was unique to Indian arms, since it contained a gauntlet attached to the hilt, however Father Monserrate notes that emperor Akbar was very fond of European blades (Elgood 2004, p.245). The word firangi or fran, derived from the English 'Frank' and has been used in the Muslim world since the medieval period to refer to all Europeans regardless of their nationality. Yet from the sixteenth century onwards, its meaning shifted to denote anything 'foreign', both men and objects. Here, it refers to sword blades, which may have been imported from Europe (Italy, Portugal or Germany) or made in India in the European style.
The straight-bladed pata was unique to Indian arms, since it contained a gauntlet attached to the hilt, however Father Monserrate notes that emperor Akbar was very fond of European blades (Elgood 2004, p.245). The word firangi or fran, derived from the English 'Frank' and has been used in the Muslim world since the medieval period to refer to all Europeans regardless of their nationality. Yet from the sixteenth century onwards, its meaning shifted to denote anything 'foreign', both men and objects. Here, it refers to sword blades, which may have been imported from Europe (Italy, Portugal or Germany) or made in India in the European style.