19th C. Large Indian Mughal Tegha sword with damascus blade

Status: Sold · Region: India · Type: Swords

This unique antique weapon from the 19th century Mughal Empire in India is a choice item for a discerning collector. The Tegha sword features a long, curved damascusblade with a large handle. Soldiers of the imperial domain relied heavily on the piece considering its armor piercing prowess.

The Mughal found the weapon essential at the time given its constant conflict with rival gunpowder empires of the epoch, i.e., Safavid Iran and the Ottoman Empire. The imperial domains fought for control of the geographic region employing the most recent martial technological innovations in their campaigns. By the 19th century, the Mughal began to lose their vast domain in the sub-continent as the British Empire began to engulf their holdings. By the mid 19th century, the British had taken control of much of India and would hold the sub-continent for approximately 100 years.

Welch, Stuart Cary India: Art and Culture, 1300–1900. Exhibition catalogue.. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986.