Sword of Aurangzeb
Sword and Sheath
ca. 1680 (made)
ca. 1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
The watered steel blade of this sword has a gold-overlaid Persian inscription that reads: 'Alamgir padshah 24', suggesting that it was in the armoury of the Mughal emperor Alamgir, widely known by his name Aurangzeb. The number 24 would then indicate the regnal year, corresponding to 1680. The superior chiselled Arabic calligraphy at the forte of the blade, and the very fine dark watering of the steel, do suggest that it was made in the 17th century in a workshop supplying the Mughal court. However, the very poor calligraphy of the inscription claiming it was made for the emperor suggests this is a later addition added to enhance the value of the sword. It was formerly in the collection of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, and was given to the museum by his descendant in 1964.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Title | Sword of Aurangzeb (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Steel overlaid with gold and blade with watered steel inlaid with gold |
| Brief description | Sword of Aurangzeb, the hilt steel, thickly overlaid with gold; the blade watered steel inlaid with gold: Mughal, late 17th century. |
| Physical description | The hilt steel, thickly overlaid with gold; the blade watered steel inlaid with gold. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Lord Kitchener |
| Object history | Given by the Right Hon. the Earl Kitchener of Khartoum From the armoury of Alamgir, the Mughal emperor. |
| Production | Mughal court |
| Summary | The watered steel blade of this sword has a gold-overlaid Persian inscription that reads: 'Alamgir padshah 24', suggesting that it was in the armoury of the Mughal emperor Alamgir, widely known by his name Aurangzeb. The number 24 would then indicate the regnal year, corresponding to 1680. The superior chiselled Arabic calligraphy at the forte of the blade, and the very fine dark watering of the steel, do suggest that it was made in the 17th century in a workshop supplying the Mughal court. However, the very poor calligraphy of the inscription claiming it was made for the emperor suggests this is a later addition added to enhance the value of the sword. It was formerly in the collection of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, and was given to the museum by his descendant in 1964. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.218&A-1964 |
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| Record created | July 3, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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