North Indian Wootz Sosun Patah Sword

Status: Sold · Region: India · Type: Swords

The Indian sosun patah is a sword with a long history. The classic form has been attributed to antiquity, originating with the Greco-Egyptian kopis sword, that is thought to have been transferred across the Ancient world through the eastward expansion under Alexander the Great and to have made its way to the Indian sub-continent in the late 2nd century BC. It is also possible that the early modern North Indian sosun patah is also related to the Turkish yataghan form and shape. Elgood notes that " Both Susan (Persian) and sausan (Arabic) refer to lily or iris, a reference to the sword-shaped lead of the Sausan or iris lily. The Sastras also refer to the Asipattravana (असिपत्त्रवन)- "Sword-leaf-forest', a version of Hell."

Asipattravana is one of the “eight hells of fire and flame” forming part of the sixteen utsadas (secondary hells) sitauted outside of the eight great hells, according to the “world of transmigration” section in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra. Accordingly, “some people, sword in hand, have gone into battle, wounded and killed; they have cut down a tree under which they have crushed their enemy in order to avenge some old grievance; they have betrayed the secret confided to them in good faith by a friend. For all these reasons, they fall into the hell of the forest of swords. When the damned enter into this hell, the wind blows over the sword-shaped leaves that then cut off the hands, feet, ears and noses of the damned. In this forest there are ravens (kāka), vultures (gṛdha) and evil dogs (śvan-) that come to eat the flesh of the damned”.

This example is finely crafted and displays the classic 18th through early 19th century developed sosun patah form. That includes the use almost always of fine quality watered steel as can be seen on this example, the mounting with a classic tulwar grip with a crossguard, and the use of both gold koftgari on the hilt and blade, and also the use of gold inlaid inscription on the forte of the blade. The inscription along the blade reads الله الحنان المنان‎ and translates as "The Most Compassionate and Merciful," a reference to the Basmala, phrase recited before each surah of the Qur'an – except for the ninth. It is the most prevalent motif in Arabic calligraphy and is, at times, found inlaid in gold on sword blades as a talisman for the owner, as on this example.

The blade remains in excellent condition with the wootz vividly visible throughout, except for one dark spot. The hilt retains nearly all of the gold koftgari in excellent condition.

This example also comes with a 19th C. scabbard mounted in velvet and with en suite carved brass mounts.