Battle Axe
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The bhuj sometimes referred to as a katti is a form of weapon which is specific to the Bhuj region of Gujarat. The stylized elephant head motif at the root of the blade has led to the weapon being nicknamed an "elephant knife." The longer haft added greater leverage allowing for it to be used one or two handed making it an effective and versatile weapon.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Forged steel, parcel-gilt, chased and encrusted with jewels |
| Brief description | Battle axe Bhuj with a blade issuing from a forged jewelled elephant head, the head and shaft chased and gilt, Bhuj, Kutch, 19th century |
| Physical description | Battle axe bhuj with a broad, somewhat knife-like blade mostly single edged except for a slight rear edge at the tip which springs from a collar in the form of a jewelled elephant's head. The steel shaft is hollow, parcel-gilt and chased. A small stiletto blade is attached to the pommel secured in place by a screw thread. The wooden sheath is covered in red velvet with embossed gilt mounts. |
| Dimensions |
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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.710 |
| Production | Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The bhuj sometimes referred to as a katti is a form of weapon which is specific to the Bhuj region of Gujarat. The stylized elephant head motif at the root of the blade has led to the weapon being nicknamed an "elephant knife." The longer haft added greater leverage allowing for it to be used one or two handed making it an effective and versatile weapon. |
| Bibliographic reference | Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 138, Cat. No. 714, Pl.xiv |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 3396toB/(IS) |
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| Record created | September 25, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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