Lot 186309: India Arts Ceremonial Talwar with Horse-Head Pommel and Velvet Scabbard
Estate Auction: Multiple-Estate Liquidation Roseville, CA (191) · Sold
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- Auction
- Estate Auction: Multiple-Estate Liquidation Roseville, CA (191)
- Lot Number
- 186309
- Status
- Sold
- Hammer / Price
- Sign in to view realized price
- Opening Bid
- $5.00
- Accepted Bids
- 33
- Closed
- 3/19/26 7:06 PM PT
Description
A modern Indian ceremonial talwar (curved saber) produced by India Arts, a prominent North Indian export brand commonly associated with the Dehradun and Saharanpur handicraft trade. The hilt is a single-piece casting in a Mughal-inspired form featuring a horse-head pommel, integral knuckle bow, and relief-textured grip, finished in bright nickel or chrome-tone plating over what is typically a zinc-based or similar base-metal alloy on comparable examples. The curved steel blade — often low-grade stainless or plated carbon steel on swords of this type — measures approximately 37.5 inches overall in scabbard. The design references the animal-headed sword hilts, or "Zafar Takieh," favored by Mughal royalty during the 17th century. In contemporary North Indian traditions, particularly among Rajput and Sikh communities, the groom carries a talwar during wedding ceremonies as a symbol of protection, and this class of sword is produced principally for that ceremonial and decorative market.