Vijayanagara South Indian Sosun Patah

A very fine and interesting early Indian sword dating to the 16th to early 17th centuries this rare sword exemplifies several interesting local and cross-cultural elements.

The hilt comprises a tour de force of South Indian Vijayanagara era carved iron entirely covered in gilt silver almost all of which remains in good condition.  The hilt is both chiseled in profile with floral designs and chiseled heavily with pierced designs on both the hand guard and the ricasso guard.  The pommel especially in the domed form approximates the shapes found on many Bijapur era weapons captured and housed in Bikaner. 

The blade is a fascinating example of local and cross-cultural elements.  The blade form is that of a sosun patah. The term itself translates to "lily leaf" in Persian, referencing the sword's gently curving blade, which resembles the petal of a lily flower. This poetic name highlights the importance of aesthetics in Indian weaponry, where swords were not only tools of war but also works of art. The sosun patah's origins are deeply rooted in the Indo-Persian tradition, blending Indian craftsmanship with Persian design elements.  The blade is further chiseled with inscriptions in Latin characters including "London" and a date of "August 10 1550" and other seemingly English words but which do not seem to have meaning in the context of the sword.   As Elgood notes in "Hindu Arms and Ritual" however, English blades found their way to India in the 17th and the 18th century and such an added inscription on what appears to be a native made blade would have been added as a mark of quality since European blades were held in high esteem (witness the many patas and firangis with European trade blades).  

This blade is further enhanced and a sign of the overall quality of the sword by a gold inlaid, though now slightly worn, gold inlaid umbrella chhatri.  Such an overall sword and blade are commensurate with it potentially having been given as khilat.

Khil‘at (derived from the Arabic term khila‘, meaning "robe of honor") was a significant ceremonial practice in Mughal India that symbolized the conferment of honor, status, or allegiance. Rooted in Persian traditions and embraced by the Mughals, the practice involved the presentation of garments, jewels, or weapons by the emperor or a high-ranking noble to signify favor, reward, or formal acknowledgment of loyalty.

The Mughals inherited the tradition of Khil‘at from earlier Persian courts, where it served as a key element of political and social rituals. The practice became integral to the Mughal administration, serving as a medium for both consolidating power and reinforcing hierarchical relationships.  Emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan institutionalized Khil‘at ceremonies, integrating them into various aspects of governance, diplomacy, and cultural life. 

This sword originates from South India which has a rich history of producing finely crafted weapons in carved and chiseled. These weapons, ranging from swords to daggers and even ceremonial arms, exemplify the region's ability to blend functionality with artistry.  The development of chiseled iron weapons in South India can be traced back to the Tamil kingdoms, Deccan Sultanates, and Vijayanagara Empire. These polities were often engaged in warfare and placed a high value on well-crafted arms for both practical and ceremonial use. Tamil Nadu was renowned for its mastery in metallurgy and produced weapons that were not only durable but also ornate, often incorporating religious and cultural motifs. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh under the Vijayanagara Empire and later kingdoms, blacksmiths specialized in embellishing weapons with chiseling techniques that depicted divine figures, floral patterns, and inscriptions.

Often these weapons would feature images of Hindu deities such as Shiva, Kali, or Vishnu, along with geometric and floral patterns.  Craftsmen would use fine tools to carve into the hardened iron, sometimes enhancing the designs with inlays of gold or silver or overlay of silver gilt which can often be found on carved and chiseled steel and iron weapons from Vijayanagara.  In addition to martial use of these arms many South Indian temples housed armories filled with intricately chiseled weapons, symbolizing the divine's role as a protector.

A similar example with a more openwork chiseled hilt can be found illustrated in the exhibition catalog of Anton Bartholemeew's collection Fight, Pray, Love, video of the exhibition linked here.  Another similar form can be found in the Royal Collection Trust.  However, based on the application of gold to both of those hilts they are likely a bit later in dating than this form which is dated not only by the form of the chiseling but also the application of gilt silver which is indicative of early Vijayanagar workmanship.