the curved single-edged blade (some old rust patination) of finely watered wootz steel with false double-edge towards the point, the forte chiselled in bas-relief on both side with a half cartouche, one side with a magic square with the protective letters ‘BDUH’, below which are three gold-inlaid cartouches, the first inscribed in gold nasta’liq ‘Help from Allah and a speedy Victory’ (Qur’an, surah 61(al Saff), part of verse 13), and the second ‘O Ali, peace be upon him, rescue me!’, below this the third inscribed ‘Sarkar Mir Murad ‘Ali Khan Talpur’, and along the edge, also inlaid in gold, ‘Sarkar Mir Muhammed Nasir Khan Talpur’, gilt-copper mounted British lancers mameluke hilt (some wear to gilding) comprising cross-guard cast and chased with a symmetrical foliate motif against a finely punched ground on both sides of the quillon-block, quillons engraved en suite along the top and bottom and each with button terminal, the rear one with a scabbard hook beneath, grip-strap engraved with a line of flower-heads within diamond-shaped borders, rounded ivory grip-scales each retained by two gilt-copper florets, and pommel pierced for a sword-knot, in its later wooden scabbard covered in black leather (damaged at the throat) tooled around the mounts, the latter damascened with gold foliage (worn) and comprising chape and scabbard mounts each with suspension ring, 87.0 cm blade

Provenance

Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 172C

The Talpurs ruled Sind from 1783, when Mir Fath ‘Ali Khan Talpur captured the province from the Kalhora dynasty, and were at their most powerful between 1783 and 1843. They were noted connoisseurs of weapons, including sword blades. They inscribed their names on a wide variety of weapons and other objects, including swords, rifles and accoutrements.

The significance of the inscriptions on this sword becomes apparent once we consider the importance of the Talpur rulers at this time. The Talpurs were a formidable family group led by Mir Fath ‘Ali Khan (d. 1801), who ruled with his three brothers: Mir Ghulam ‘Ali Khan (d. 1811), Mir Karim ‘Ali Khan (d. 1828) and Mir Murad ‘Ali Khan (d. 1834). Together they were known as the Char Sar or Four Friends (Postans 1843, p. 188). The most significant branches of the family were the Shahdadpur (the pre-eminent branch), ruling at Hyderabad, the Mankani, ruling from Mirpur, and the Sohrabani, ruling at Khairpur in Upper Sind. Mir Murad ‘Ali Khan (one of the ‘Four Friends’) and his son Mir Muhammad Nasir Khan (d. 1845) were from the Hyderabad branch for which Mir Muhammad Nasir Khan became the senior Mir after 1841. The names of the Talpurs recorded on this sword are therefore those of the most powerful family members across two generations. The blade is a record of a ruling family who maintained their own political identity.

A blade in the Wallace Collection chiselled with a very similar half cartouche is signed by Muhammad Kazim Shirazi Isfahani and bears the name of Mir Murad ‘Ali Khan Talpur (inv. no. OA1503, Richardson and Turner 2026, p. 56). It is likely that the present blade came from the same workshop. For a group of swords bearing Talpur inscriptions now in the armoury at Jodhpur Fort, see Elgood 2017, vol. 1, pp. 432-457. Several bear the name of Sarkar Mir Murad ‘Ali Khan Talpur as here. Another shamshir bears his name and also the name of Sarkar Mir Muhammad Nasir Khan Talpur (Elgood 2017, pp. 440-443).

The blade was mounted on a British hilt in the 19th century, possibly following either the Battle of Miani or the Battle of Hyderabad, both in 1843, when Sir Charles Napier defeated the Talpurs.

Ivory Registration: J2D1VSZF