Form where in India and how old is this katar?

Lew · 4th March 2011, 03:22 PM

Jens

No decorations

just plain steel. It seems to me that most katars from Rajasthan that I have seen are not really decorated and are more plain. This is of course is due to my limited exposure. I'm sure there are some but I have not come across any so far. Also since there were many wars between different kingdoms where the defeated sides armoury was sacked and those particular weapons were spread around to other regions of India it becomes difficult to make a precise call on their origins.

Jens Nordlunde · 4th March 2011, 04:35 PM

Lew,

Don’t worry about ’missing’ decorations. I also have katars ‘only’ with chiselled decorations, and I like them a lot. In a way they are more ‘honest’ than the others, although the others can be flashier. You are, of course, right that weapons and other goods of value, travelled a lot when a battle had been won, and where it ended in the first place, may not have been where it was, when the armoury was split up – it could be in quite another part of the India.

The photographic test on my katar has been made, and both the copper and the silver have been inlaid – fantastic work.

Battara · 4th March 2011, 04:40 PM

That kind of inlay is more difficult to do than koftgari. Thus is even more impressive work than I thought before. Great skill was used for this work indeed!

Jens Nordlunde · 5th March 2011, 06:17 PM

Battara,
The earlier Indians were true artists,when it came to inlays, enamels and many other forms of decoration.
Jens

Battara · 5th March 2011, 06:30 PM

Oh no doubt. That is why earlier pieces Indian, Indonesian, and Moro seem to be of better quality.

archer · 8th March 2011, 05:51 PM

Jens, since you are not seeing the normal cross hatching seen in koftgari is it
likely that the Persian style, of punched holes used to anchor the material was used? Your cameras magnification may well tell the tale. Another fine example
as usual. I added a very worn example of punch work. Thanks for sharing it and the mystery. Steve

Jens Nordlunde · 8th March 2011, 06:11 PM

Hi Steve,
I know what you mean, but this is inlay, and it must have been a very difficult work to do so, as the channels were made very close to each other. Someone who could do this kind of work must have been a very skilled craftsman.
Most of what we see to day is koftgari, but I guess that in some collections you will find inlay if you look hard enough. If the picture is good enough, and you blow it up, you will be able to see where the channels once were, covered in old dirt and old rust, but you can see them.
Nice blade btw

.
Jens

8th March 2011, 05:51 PM	#6
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Koftgari Jens, since you are not seeing the normal cross hatching seen in koftgari is it likely that the Persian style, of punched holes used to anchor the material was used? Your cameras magnification may well tell the tale. Another fine example as usual. I added a very worn example of punch work. Thanks for sharing it and the mystery. Steve Attached Images

8th March 2011, 06:11 PM	#7
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Steve, I know what you mean, but this is inlay, and it must have been a very difficult work to do so, as the channels were made very close to each other. Someone who could do this kind of work must have been a very skilled craftsman. Most of what we see to day is koftgari, but I guess that in some collections you will find inlay if you look hard enough. If the picture is good enough, and you blow it up, you will be able to see where the channels once were, covered in old dirt and old rust, but you can see them. Nice blade btw. Jens

4th March 2011, 03:22 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Jens No decorations just plain steel. It seems to me that most katars from Rajasthan that I have seen are not really decorated and are more plain. This is of course is due to my limited exposure. I'm sure there are some but I have not come across any so far. Also since there were many wars between different kingdoms where the defeated sides armoury was sacked and those particular weapons were spread around to other regions of India it becomes difficult to make a precise call on their origins.

4th March 2011, 04:35 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Lew, Don’t worry about ’missing’ decorations. I also have katars ‘only’ with chiselled decorations, and I like them a lot. In a way they are more ‘honest’ than the others, although the others can be flashier. You are, of course, right that weapons and other goods of value, travelled a lot when a battle had been won, and where it ended in the first place, may not have been where it was, when the armoury was split up – it could be in quite another part of the India. The photographic test on my katar has been made, and both the copper and the silver have been inlaid – fantastic work.

4th March 2011, 04:40 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,282	That kind of inlay is more difficult to do than koftgari. Thus is even more impressive work than I thought before. Great skill was used for this work indeed!

5th March 2011, 06:17 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Battara, The earlier Indians were true artists,when it came to inlays, enamels and many other forms of decoration. Jens

5th March 2011, 06:30 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,282	Oh no doubt. That is why earlier pieces Indian, Indonesian, and Moro seem to be of better quality.