Katars with protrusion

Jens Nordlunde · 21st August 2015, 03:11 PM

Roland,
Thank you for showing it.
From where do you have the picture? If it from a book - what does the text say?

Not so long ago I saw one on the net, but that is the ony one I have seen until you showed this katar.
Jens

Roland_M · 21st August 2015, 04:52 PM

Hello Jens,

no book, this is the picture from a well known italian auction house in Sarzana and the katar belongs to me now

. For a ridiculously low price.

I already polished the blade and the wootz pattern is incredibly fine and detailed. I have added a picture after the etching process before cleaning, you can see an arrow shaped hardening pattern at the tip of the blade, including the barbed hooks.

Roland

Jens Nordlunde · 21st August 2015, 04:57 PM

Roland,
Congratulations :-).
Please let me see the whole katar after the cleaning - looks to be very nice.
What did the catalogue text say?
Jens

Jens Nordlunde · 22nd August 2016, 03:28 PM

Roland,
Do you remember what the auction text said?

mariusgmioc · 22nd August 2016, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Roland,
Do you remember what the auction text said?

The question is legitimate but don't hold your breath!

I found out that in rather too many cases their descriptions are inaccurate at best.

mariusgmioc · 22nd August 2016, 03:49 PM

Hello,

In my oppinion (in other words I'm just guessing), the protruding bars of these Katars are nothing but the result of the way they were made. Namely the cross-bars were inserted in the perforations in the extending arms and their ends were riveted, resulting the protrusions we see.

I have seen Katars like these with diferent types of blades, diferent levels of decoration and diferent quality of workmanship so I don't think they can be attributed to a particular location or time period.

Like for example the hilt of a classic Kard can be with two scales or made in one piece, or like a Tulwar can have a hilt with a hand guard (knuckle bow) or not.

Jens Nordlunde · 22nd August 2016, 03:52 PM

Hi Marius :-)

Yes I know, but it would interest me to know all the same.

estcrh · 23rd August 2016, 05:51 PM

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...7/lot.137.html
A steel three-bladed push dagger (katar), India, 17th century
Estimate 2,000 — 3,000 GBP
LOT SOLD. 6,250 GBP (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium)

A steel three-bladed push dagger (katar), India, 17th century
the three tapering blades chiselled with a central palmette ridge, the grip with four fretted crossbars with protruding terminals, modern metal stand with fitted armature, 41 cm. (16 1/8 in.)

This rare katar belongs to a group of early-17th-century push daggers. A 17th-century steel katar with four similar fretted crossbars from a Danish private collection was exhibited at the David Collection in 1982 and is illustrated in Copenhagen 1982, no.135. A similar triple-bladed katar is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Elgood 2004, p.160, no.15.34).

A katar with a closely related hilt and double-bladed dagger is in the collection of Lord Clive at Powis Castle (Powis 1987, pp.42-3, no.21). A number of katars of this type were presented by the 'Jagirdar of Alipura, Bundelkand' to the Prince of Wales in 1875 or 1876 and said to date from the eighteenth century.

Although katars were popular in the Mughal and Deccani courts, Welch attributes the origin of the katar to Southern India (see Welch 1985, p.271).

21st August 2015, 04:52 PM	#2
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 525	Hello Jens, no book, this is the picture from a well known italian auction house in Sarzana and the katar belongs to me now . For a ridiculously low price. I already polished the blade and the wootz pattern is incredibly fine and detailed. I have added a picture after the etching process before cleaning, you can see an arrow shaped hardening pattern at the tip of the blade, including the barbed hooks. Roland Attached Images

22nd August 2016, 03:49 PM	#6
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	Hello, In my oppinion (in other words I'm just guessing), the protruding bars of these Katars are nothing but the result of the way they were made. Namely the cross-bars were inserted in the perforations in the extending arms and their ends were riveted, resulting the protrusions we see. I have seen Katars like these with diferent types of blades, diferent levels of decoration and diferent quality of workmanship so I don't think they can be attributed to a particular location or time period. Like for example the hilt of a classic Kard can be with two scales or made in one piece, or like a Tulwar can have a hilt with a hand guard (knuckle bow) or not. Last edited by mariusgmioc; 22nd August 2016 at 04:24 PM.

23rd August 2016, 05:51 PM	#8
estcrh Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,492	http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...7/lot.137.html A steel three-bladed push dagger (katar), India, 17th century Estimate 2,000 — 3,000 GBP LOT SOLD. 6,250 GBP (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium) A steel three-bladed push dagger (katar), India, 17th century the three tapering blades chiselled with a central palmette ridge, the grip with four fretted crossbars with protruding terminals, modern metal stand with fitted armature, 41 cm. (16 1/8 in.) This rare katar belongs to a group of early-17th-century push daggers. A 17th-century steel katar with four similar fretted crossbars from a Danish private collection was exhibited at the David Collection in 1982 and is illustrated in Copenhagen 1982, no.135. A similar triple-bladed katar is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Elgood 2004, p.160, no.15.34). A katar with a closely related hilt and double-bladed dagger is in the collection of Lord Clive at Powis Castle (Powis 1987, pp.42-3, no.21). A number of katars of this type were presented by the 'Jagirdar of Alipura, Bundelkand' to the Prince of Wales in 1875 or 1876 and said to date from the eighteenth century. Although katars were popular in the Mughal and Deccani courts, Welch attributes the origin of the katar to Southern India (see Welch 1985, p.271). Attached Images

21st August 2015, 03:11 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Roland, Thank you for showing it. From where do you have the picture? If it from a book - what does the text say? Not so long ago I saw one on the net, but that is the ony one I have seen until you showed this katar. Jens

21st August 2015, 04:57 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Roland, Congratulations :-). Please let me see the whole katar after the cleaning - looks to be very nice. What did the catalogue text say? Jens

22nd August 2016, 03:28 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Roland, Do you remember what the auction text said?

22nd August 2016, 03:52 PM	#7
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Marius :-) Yes I know, but it would interest me to know all the same.