Tiger Claws
ca. 17th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place Of Origin |
This weapon is reputed to be the one used by the Maratha leader Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan, the commander of the opposing Bijapur army in a famous episode that took place during the complicated political upheavals of 17th century India. During a protracted military engagement in 1659, the two men arranged a truce in order to meet in a tented enclosure, virtually alone. Both came armed: Shivaji wore mail under his clothes and metal skull protection under his turban. He also held metal "tiger claws" of this kind concealed in his hand. The two men fought and Shivaji disembowelled his opponent.
The claws are accompanied by a fitted case that is inscribed: "The 'Wagnuck' of Sivajee With Which He Killed the Moghul General. This Relic was given to Mr. James Grant-Duff of Eden When he was Resident at Satara By the Prime Minister of the Peshwa of the Marathas".
The claws are accompanied by a fitted case that is inscribed: "The 'Wagnuck' of Sivajee With Which He Killed the Moghul General. This Relic was given to Mr. James Grant-Duff of Eden When he was Resident at Satara By the Prime Minister of the Peshwa of the Marathas".
object details
| Category | |
| Object Type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and Techniques | Steel |
| Brief Description | Tiger claws reputed to have been used by Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan; Maratha, 17th century. |
| Physical Description | The weapon of steel has four "claws" mounted on a bar with two rings for the first and fourth fingers. The difference in size between the two rings indicates that it is a weapon to be used in the left hand. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr Adrian Grant Duff |
| Object history | Reputed to be the tiger claws used by Shivaji to kill the Bijapur general Afzal Khan in 1659. They are accompanied by a red morocco case inscribed "The 'Wagnuck' of Sivajee With Which He Killed the Moghul General. This Relic was given to Mr. James Grant-Duff of Eden When he was Resident at Satara By the Prime Minister of the Peshwa of the Marathas" Nominal File: Grant Duff, Adrian via Boyle, Mrs U.F. MA 11/G1482 James Grant Duff was born in 1789 and died in 1858. |
| Summary | This weapon is reputed to be the one used by the Maratha leader Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan, the commander of the opposing Bijapur army in a famous episode that took place during the complicated political upheavals of 17th century India. During a protracted military engagement in 1659, the two men arranged a truce in order to meet in a tented enclosure, virtually alone. Both came armed: Shivaji wore mail under his clothes and metal skull protection under his turban. He also held metal "tiger claws" of this kind concealed in his hand. The two men fought and Shivaji disembowelled his opponent. The claws are accompanied by a fitted case that is inscribed: "The 'Wagnuck' of Sivajee With Which He Killed the Moghul General. This Relic was given to Mr. James Grant-Duff of Eden When he was Resident at Satara By the Prime Minister of the Peshwa of the Marathas". |
| Bibliographic Reference | Jackson, Anna and Jaffer, Amin (eds), with Deepika Ahlawat. Maharaja : the splendour of India's royal courts. London, V&A Publishing, 2009. ISBN.9781851775736 (hbk.), ISBN.1851775730 (hbk.).plate 5, p.17 |
| Collection | |
| Accession Number | IS.33-1971 |
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| record created | April 25, 2007 |
| Record URL |