Sword and Sheath
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The kastane is the national sword of Sri Lanka. It typically has a short curved single-edged blade, double-edged at the point. The hilt comprises a knuckle-guard and down-turned quillons, each terminating in a dragon's head. The swords were intended to serve as badges of rank; the quality of ornamentation depending on the status of the wearer.
The establishment of European trading contacts with South Asia by the late 16th and early 17th century led to these swords becoming fashionable dress accessories among European gentlemen. A kastane can be seen in an equestrian portrait of Colonel Alexander Popham at Littlecote House in the care of the Royal Armouries Collection (I.315).
The establishment of European trading contacts with South Asia by the late 16th and early 17th century led to these swords becoming fashionable dress accessories among European gentlemen. A kastane can be seen in an equestrian portrait of Colonel Alexander Popham at Littlecote House in the care of the Royal Armouries Collection (I.315).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Brief description | Sword and sheath kastane with a dragon headed pommel and chased and embossed gold sheath, Travancore, 19th century |
| Physical description | Sword and sheath kastane with a dragon headed pommel and chased and embossed gold sheath |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Transferred from the India Museum in 1879 |
| Object history | As originally arranged and displayed in Exhibition Road Indian Museum galleries until 1955, with some additions while in storage, case F.701 Presented to the East India Company by the Rajah of Travancore |
| Production | Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879 |
| Summary | The kastane is the national sword of Sri Lanka. It typically has a short curved single-edged blade, double-edged at the point. The hilt comprises a knuckle-guard and down-turned quillons, each terminating in a dragon's head. The swords were intended to serve as badges of rank; the quality of ornamentation depending on the status of the wearer. The establishment of European trading contacts with South Asia by the late 16th and early 17th century led to these swords becoming fashionable dress accessories among European gentlemen. A kastane can be seen in an equestrian portrait of Colonel Alexander Popham at Littlecote House in the care of the Royal Armouries Collection (I.315). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 133 - Egerton Catalogue Number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2573:1, 2/(IS) |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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