Sword with Scabbard

This magnificent gold-mounted sword has traditionally been considered a personal sword of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ‘Lion of the Punjab’ (1780–1839), based on its description in a 1865 exhibition catalogue. While it is a high-quality and finely decorated sword, there is no further proof of this connection, and it may have been made at any of the North Indian royal courts. The scabbard fittings may be a later addition, and are consistent with an attribution to the court of Lucknow.