August

A welcome oasis from the bustle of London’s Oxford Street, the Wallace Collection is best known for Frans Hal’s portrait of the ‘Laughing Cavalier’. Perhaps, less well known are the magnificent displays of historic Sikh and Indian arms and armor in the Oriental Armory of the Wallace Collections, including the exquisitely decorated sword of Maharajah Ranjit Singh. This magnificent sword or ‘shamshir’ is one of the greatest Sikh treasures in Britain.

It was acquired in Paris at some time prior to 1865 by Lord Hertford, the father of Sir Richard Wallace, founder of the Wallace Collection. He exhibited it in Paris at the ‘Musée Rétrospectif’ exhibition in that year, describing it as having belonged to ‘Runjet Sing’… an attribution that has never been doubted. It is a particularly fine and rare example of its type, with mounts of solid gold.

Only the most important and prestigious of swords were as richly mounted. The sword even retains its original scabbard, carrying belt and straps, all similarly mounted in pure gold. The grip is carved from exotic and highly-prized walrus ivory, while the blade is of ‘watered’ steel.

The decoration of the sword-hilt has the figure of a lion placed prominently at its centre, a fitting emblem to adorn the sword of the Lion of the Punjab.

“In battle, he was always seen at the head of his troops and foremost in combat: he twice crossed the Indus with his cavalry, in the very face of the enemy, and gained victory. In energy, will and endurance he was unequalled by any of his people... The want of education was covered by the splendid mental powers with which nature had endowed him to maintain himself in his high station.”

Captain Leopold Von Orlich on Maharajah Ranjit Singh, Travels in India including Sinde and Punjab, 1843