scimitar

Nepalese short-sword, kora, made from pattern-welded steel. The heavy blade is of conventional form with an “elephant’s ear” shape at the tip. The hilt has two disc-shaped guards, and the pommel is surmounted by a stepped finial shaped like a stupa. The scabbard is covered with blue velvet. It is unusual to find a pattern welded kora which has been treated to show the pattern so vividly: such treatment is however commonly found on blades from Indonesia and Malaysia, especially kris blades.

For a discussion of pattern welding, see M. Sachse “Damascus Steel. Myth, history, technology, applications� Dusseldorf, 1993.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
26.11.60/1i
Date
18th or 19th century
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 584.2 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
metal; steel
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
In storage
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Collection Information

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