Kastane (sword) Hilt
Full Description:
This is a fine example of a hilt from a kastane sword that is characteristic of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and traditionally would have been worn by the mudaliyar (a South Indian and Tamil name for first that refers to a person endowed with wealth).
Of heavy cast silver, the hilt is chased with designs of foliate scrollwork in traditional Ceylonese style. The pommel is in the form of a large simha (Ceylonese style lion), with-set eyes with red glass and a gaping mouth with two of the teeth set with rubies. The knuckle-guard terminates with a similar head while a cross-legged, unidentified deity sits on the face of the guard. The quillons take the form of drooping makara heads. Mounted on a black steel base.