With a fine wootz blade with a pronounced center ridge.
74.5 cm
41.8 cm
Base, flats: 16 mm
Base, edges: 21 mm
Inside 20.5
Outside 26.5
866 grams
Iron, steel
Bikanēr, Rajasthan, North India
Probably 17th-18th century
European antique art market
Description
A large Rajput lance head from the Bikanēr armory, located in the Thar desert in Northern Rajasthan.
(See article: The Bikaner Armory)
It was the tip of a large and heavy armor-piercing cavalry lance.
The business end is a long spike with a square cross-section. Each of the facets has a fuller at the base. The head is seated on a long socket, largely with an octagonal cross-section. The steel surface shows laminations visible in both socket and head.
Despite being a practical military weapon foremost, some effort was put into it, decorating it with chiseling and engravings. It is in a clean state, with no buildup of patina, like most items from this armory. Probably a combination of good, periodic maintenance and the dry local desert climate.
Markings
It bears to markings in the typical style and format used in the Bikanēr armory:
"112"
&
"110"
The hilt is in the typical Marwari Rajput style, made by Ram Namar in 1857 A.D.
The only set of its type known to me in both private and museum collections.
Of classic shape, with a leaf-shaped blade on a socket, connected by a cast bronze base.