Chiseled iron bichwa
This item has been sold.
Overall length

31 cm / 12.2 inch

Blade length

19.8 cm / 7.8 inch

Blade thickness

middle 4 mm

near tip 6.5 mm

Blade width

forte 23 mm

middle 17 mm

near tip 13 mm

Weight without scabbard

296 grams

Origin

South India

Materials

Iron, steel, gold.

Dating

18th century

Provenance

European antique market

Sold

Interested?
Anything similar for sale?

Contact me

Introduction

Commonly called bichuwa, literally means "scorpion". The name probably refers to the shape of the blade that resembles the sting of a scorpion. The bichuwa consists of a loop handle that fits around the palm of the hand, enabling the wielder to use the hand without the dropping the dagger, for example when engaging in wrestling.

Egerton quotes a source stating it was said to have been worn by common people in Mysore and Hyderabad, concealed within the sleeve within a sheath. 1 Elgood states the shape of the dagger is meant to replicate the form of one of Vishnu's weapons, the noose. He also mentions an ivory statuette of a seventeenth-century Madurai ruler with an ornate bichuwa that seems to indicate they were accepted in the highest circles, and not only for commoners.2

Notes to introduction
1. Lord Egerton of Tatton: Indian and Oriental Arms and Armour. Dover Publications; Revised edition, 2002. Page 116.
2. Robert Elgood; Hindu arms and Ritual, Eburon Academic Publishers, Delft, 2004. Page 237. The statuette is located in the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, Mumbai, accession number 66.4.

Description

A rare and beautiful bichuwa dagger with chiseled iron hilt. The handle chiseled with two parakeets and a lion's face on the top and a parakeet and a lion at the shoulders of the handle where it meets the blade. The langets that hold the blade have the profile of the stylized palmate motifs found on the langets of many arms attributed to the Tanjore armory. There is a flower on the inside of the handle that fits right in the center of the palm of the hand when worn, but there is a caveat, see under the header "comparable examples".

The handle was probably originally plain, but it was covered in gold damascening somewhat later during its working life. I believe the dagger probably dates from the 18th century, with the gold possibly added in the late 18th to 19th century.

It has a slender but thick blade with a deep groove on either side that leads to a thickening at the tip. Each groove is flanked by two very narrow grooves. The blade shows signs of a forge folded construction. The alignment of the blade on this bichuwa suggests it was made for left-handed use, probably as a secondary weapon.

Iconography

Often referred to as parrots, the birds depicted in Indian art are often actually parakeets. Like parrots, they can learn how to mimic human speech and were found being able to memorize the chants uttered by worshippers in temples. They are the vehicles ("vahana") of the Hindu gods Kamadeva and his consort Rati, who represent love and desire.

The parakeets, in pairs or single, that frequently feature on south Indian arms are perhaps a reference to the linkage between love and war that are frequent themes in Tamil poetry: Risking one's life for that which one loves.1 Goddess Meenakshi (consort of Shiva) is also often depicted holding a parakeet, and the parakeet is associated with the goddess Andal, a Tamil poet and saint devoted to Vishnu. In earlier times the lion was a sacred animal among Hindus because it was believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu.

Kamadeva riding on his parakeet
Kamadeva on his parakeet.
Illustration from Birdwood, Industrial arts of India vol 1, London, 1880.

Comparable examples

Bichuwa daggers with chiseled iron handles are -per my current knowledge- pretty rare. This is the only example of its type that I've seen so far.

There is one example in the Metropolitan Museum that is of superior workmanship, but of a completely different style: 2014.190. Interestingly the shape of the inside of the handle, fitting each finger individually, suggests this dagger was used with the first curve of the blade turning towards the user. This is the opposite of how blades on daggers like the chilanum are usually aligned. It leads one to wonder whether it's the odd one out, or that bichuwa were used fundamentally different from chilanum.

Conclusion

A very rare bichuwa dagger with chiseled iron handle, carved with parakeets and lions, damascened in gold at a later date.

Notes
1. Robert Elgood; Hindu arms and Ritual, Eburon Academic Publishers, Delft, 2004. Page 152.

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

A south Indian bichwa dagger with chiseled iron handle

Do you have anything for sale?

I might be interested in buying it.

Contact me
Currently available:

Its hilt overlaid with thick silver, then fire-gilt.

€2400,-

A large example in excellent state of preservation.

€16000,-

Somewhat worn but once very high-quality, with great sculptural qualities and remains of silver "true…

€2300,-

Of a style often associated with Tanjore, the seat of the Vijayanagara empire.

€1650,-

An early fighting piece with strong reinforcing langet and broad, cobra shaped tip.

€7200,-

With a very fine Nepalese blade, but kard-like hilt and scabbard.

€3500,-