Lot 440

South-Asia, Indian subcontinent, a Firangi in original scabbard with a chapel, cut-and-thrust curved saber with silver gilded tulwar hilt, this basket hilt owns a surmounted spur (curved spike) on disk pommel. Such broadsword blades - litterally foreigner - were either imported from Europe by the Portuguese, or made in imitation of them. Firanghi were exotic and expensive, and so naturally, the firaṅgī was sort of a status symbol, L. 86 cm.