Sword of Aurangzeb thumbnail 1
Sword of Aurangzeb thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asia Gallery, Room 41

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Sword of Aurangzeb

Sword and Sheath
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.

  • Sword Sheath
  • Sword
TitleSword 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
  • Length: 94cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
  • alamgir padshah 24 Ya rahman Ya rahim (If the numbers refer to Alamgir's 24th regnal year, which seems probable, this would be AH 1091/1680-1. The blade also has the conventional ascription to the legendary swordsmith Assadullah Isfahani.)
    Translation
    King Alamgir [regnal year] 24
  • Transliteration
Gallery label
SWORD OF AURANGZEB: The hilt steel, thickly overlaid with gold; the blade watered steel inlaid with gold: Mughal, late 17th century.(Nehru Gallery, 2001)
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 createdJuly 3, 2008
Record URL
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