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Sword (Shamshir) with Scabbard and Belt

hilt, scabbard, and belt, early 19th century; blade, A.H. 1162/1748–49 CE
Not on view
The hilt of this saber is mounted in enameled silver in a style associated with the north Indian city of Lucknow, in the Mughal province of Oudh. The blade of crucible (“watered”) steel is exceptionally rare, as it includes the name of the maker, Baqir Mashhadi, an Iranian swordsmith active in India, his patron, Safdar Jang Bahadur, an Iranian who ruled as nawab (governor) of Oudh from 1739 to 1754, and the date of its manufacture.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sword (Shamshir) with Scabbard and Belt
  • Date: hilt, scabbard, and belt, early 19th century; blade, A.H. 1162/1748–49 CE
  • Geography: Jaipur, Rajasthan; Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
  • Culture: hilt, scabbard, and belt, Indian; blade, northern India
  • Medium: Steel, gold, ivory, wood, enamel, velvet, silver, textile
  • Dimensions: L. 36 1/4 in. (92.2 cm); L. of blade 30 3/4 in. (78.1 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 4 oz. (1011 g); Wt. of scabbard 1 lb. 6 oz. (630 g)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
  • Object Number: 36.25.1304a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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