Ancient, armed Indian from Kabul

[ariel]

Originally Posted by Andrew

I truly intended no disrespect for the Armoury. However, I think we can agree it is not uncommon for innacurate provenance to perpetuate innacurate descriptions and attributions, even by otherwise excellent institutions.

Yes, I concede this could be a Rajastani knife in a Burmese/Thai style. However, Occam's Razor suggests to me it is more likely just mis-identified.

Here are some similar knives from Oriental Arms' gallery:

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photo...00116/ph-0.jpg
http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photo...00115/ph-0.jpg

I think it much more likely that this form of knife, with its slightly recurved, khandjar-like blade is the result of influence flowing from India into SEA, rather than the reverse.

It is not a matter of disrespect at all: museums err just like we do (hopefully less as they at least require cataloguing, unlike most of us, freelancing collectors).
I just hope they have valid provenance.
As to the direction of influence... of course it works both ways. My only point was that the Afghani warrior at the picture might have worn a Dha (or Dha-like sword) and it might not have been an artistic license.