Talwar (Tulwar)
Sikh Empire - Punjab Province, British India (Punjab, Pakistan - Northwest India)
First half of 19th century (ca. 1800 - 1850)
Steel, silver
Blade: 74,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 86,7cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2026
Collection Number: 513

Ex. Estate Sales Warehouse: Oceanside California, USA (2026)

A fine and unique talwar sword from Nothern India, likely the Punjab Region in regards to the quillion form, dating to around the first half of the 19th century. The heavy single- edged curved steel blade having a thick spine. In bright conditions, the blade reveals a crystalline dentrite structural reflection in response to the light. A stamp of two "X"'s with a circular sunburst in between is present on one side of the blade at approximately a quarter length from the hilt.

The steel hilt of a V- lined swollen central grip, the straight quillons curving backward toward themselves, ending in a pierced langlet. The tri- lobed quillons seem to be emblematic to the khanda, the symbol of Sikhi, and are often found on talwar swords of the Punjab Region.

The broad circular pommel disk features patterned openwork around the outside rim with an interior lotus border, domed cap, and bulbed finial. The entire hilt is decorated with silver inlay in repeated patterned foliage of spiraling vines and flowered leaves encompassing blooming poppies that continue onto the pommel disc. Some losses to the silver inlay. A fine and rare example of the Punjabi Talwar, having uniquely detailed quillons and an extensive openworked pommel disc.

Photograph 19: A Nihang Sikh with a characteristically elaborate Dastar Bunga (Towering Fortress) turban, Hyderabad, India. 1865. By photographer William Willoughby Hooper and George Western.

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[1] https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/228335942_indian-tulwar-talwar-sword-oceanside-ca (This Sword)

[2] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-137692

[3] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-137699

[4] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=2757

‍[5] https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/228335869_indian-tulwar-talwar-sword-oceanside-ca