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Lot 41

An Indian Shamshir
The Blade Dated 1662 A.H. Corresponding To 1748 A.D.

Antique Arms and Armour

23 July 2015, 10:30 BST

London, Knightsbridge

£1,000 - £1,500

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An Indian Shamshir
The Blade Dated 1662 A.H. Corresponding To 1748 A.D.

With curved single-edged blade (scattered rust patination) with gold-inlaid cartouche on one side towards the forte inscribed 'Ahmad Shah, King of Kings' in nas-ta'liq, steel hilt of tulwar form entirely covered in silver-gilt (minor losses) chased with flowering foliage against punched grounds and comprising pointed langets, waisted quillons with button terminals, tapering recurved knuckle-guard with bud-shaped terminal, and faceted grip with curved rounded pommel and stalk-like finial en suite
83.2 cm. blade

Footnotes

Ahmad Shah came to the Mughal throne in March 1748, direct from a campaign against an invading Afghan army lead by Ahmad Shah Abdali, his first and only military experience. His mother was the former dancing girl, Udham Bai who had long been out of favour with the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah, Ahmad's stingy father. Ahmad had therefore been brought up by women and eunuchs without education or luxury. He adopted the latter with alacrity while delegating government to his mother and the eunuch Javid Khan, his mother's lover. Ahmad ignored administration and devoted himself to debauchery, disappearing into his pleasure gardens. Power passed into the hands of viziers and their factions at court. Men such as Safdar Jang and Imad ul-Mulk whose control of the Emperor Ahmad Shah gave them nominal legitimacy over what remained of the Mughal Empire. In 1754 Ahmad Shah was deposed and imprisoned in Salimgarh by his Grand Vizier, Imad-ul-Mulk in alliance with the Marathas. While in prison his eyes were gouged out but despite this he lived on until 1775

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