Saddle-axe of Safdar Jang
Saddle Axe
19th century (made)
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This saddle-axe of watered steel, chiselled and originally overlaid with gold, is inscribed with the name of an identifiable personage at the Mughal court in the 18th century, Safdar Jang ("War Hero" in Persian), governor of Luckonw and the Avadh district, confirmed in his position by Nadir Shah of Iran during his raid on the Mughal empire in 1738-9. The known details of his life date the axe to between about 1739 and 1753. It was made in imitation of the Iranian model probably introduced into Lahore, a major metalworking centre, after Nadir Shah's entry into the city in January 1738.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Saddle-axe of Safdar Jang |
| Materials and techniques | Watered steel head and a wooden handle with faint traces of gold overlay |
| Brief description | Saddle-axe tabarzin steel, Lahore, first half of 18th century |
| Physical description | Saddle axe with a steel head and a wooden handle. Lahore 19th century. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | (The name of Safdar Jang appears on the saddle-axe in low relief, and was originally overlaid with gold, traces of which remain.) |
| Object history | From the collection of William Tayler, a servant of the East India Company from 1829 to 1859. Made for Safdar Jang, governor of Lucknow and the district of Awadh, and confirmed in this position in 1739 by Nadir Shah of Iran during his invasion of the Mughal empire 1738-9. |
| Summary | This saddle-axe of watered steel, chiselled and originally overlaid with gold, is inscribed with the name of an identifiable personage at the Mughal court in the 18th century, Safdar Jang ("War Hero" in Persian), governor of Luckonw and the Avadh district, confirmed in his position by Nadir Shah of Iran during his raid on the Mughal empire in 1738-9. The known details of his life date the axe to between about 1739 and 1753. It was made in imitation of the Iranian model probably introduced into Lahore, a major metalworking centre, after Nadir Shah's entry into the city in January 1738. |
| Bibliographic reference | Stronge, S. (Ed.) "The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms", V&A, 1999
p. 213, Cat. 34 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 400-1875 |
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| Record created | October 16, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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