Nice Old Katar With a Little Restoration

Jens Nordlunde · 2nd October 2013, 10:48 PM

I find it is a very nice katar, although I find the pictures somewhat out of focus.
A thing which makes me wonder is, what is south India?
To my opinion we have the NW, Punjab, Rajasthan, Deccan (the Deccan Sultanates) and south India.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Jens

CharlesS · 2nd October 2013, 10:52 PM

Apologies for the pics. I am not the best photographer nor is my camera the best.

Runjeet Singh · 2nd October 2013, 11:54 PM

Jens,

I'm not sure what your question is, but my email was me thinking out loud, so let me say clearly where I think it is from. I see influences from early South Indian Katars (Tanjore principally), but I think this has more Islamic influence, and therefore I would place it coming from the Deccan.

I think the Deccan makers were good at fusing North and South together. I think the dagger I picture below is again from the Deccan, but takes the tiger tooth hilt from the North, and the blade from the South.

Regards,
Runjeet

laEspadaAncha · 3rd October 2013, 12:04 AM

With regards to the katar, all I can say is, "

!"

It's an absolute stunner - if one was to have just one katar in their collection, IMO this would serve the role nicely!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

I find it is a very nice katar, although I find the pictures somewhat out of focus.
A thing which makes me wonder is, what is south India?
To my opinion we have the NW, Punjab, Rajasthan, Deccan (the Deccan Sultanates) and south India.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Jens

I think the confusion might arise from the use of the Deccan as more of a geographical description, exclusive from the cultural distinction between South Indians and north... The Deccan Plateau most definitely extends into areas of the subcontinent historically occupied by South Indians (e.g., the Vijayanagar Empire extended well onto the plateau).

South Indians generally consider Marathis (Bombay) as "South Indians," though I've met more than a few Marathis who consider themselves northerners (my word). I guess it all depends on one's perspective!

Richard G · 5th October 2013, 01:46 PM

Excuse me if this is a ridiculous question, but could the hilt be Bidriware? It seems an obvious material for a decorated hilt but I can't say I've seen many, or even any; perhaps it is too brittle.
I would be interested in opinions.
Best wishes
Richard

2nd October 2013, 11:54 PM	#3
Runjeet Singh Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warwickshire, England Posts: 150	Jens, I'm not sure what your question is, but my email was me thinking out loud, so let me say clearly where I think it is from. I see influences from early South Indian Katars (Tanjore principally), but I think this has more Islamic influence, and therefore I would place it coming from the Deccan. I think the Deccan makers were good at fusing North and South together. I think the dagger I picture below is again from the Deccan, but takes the tiger tooth hilt from the North, and the blade from the South. Regards, Runjeet Attached Images

2nd October 2013, 10:48 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I find it is a very nice katar, although I find the pictures somewhat out of focus. A thing which makes me wonder is, what is south India? To my opinion we have the NW, Punjab, Rajasthan, Deccan (the Deccan Sultanates) and south India. Correct me if I am wrong. Jens

2nd October 2013, 10:52 PM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Apologies for the pics. I am not the best photographer nor is my camera the best.

5th October 2013, 01:46 PM	#5
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 415	Excuse me if this is a ridiculous question, but could the hilt be Bidriware? It seems an obvious material for a decorated hilt but I can't say I've seen many, or even any; perhaps it is too brittle. I would be interested in opinions. Best wishes Richard