Kongkavaal (Moplah)
Kongkavaal (Moplah)
Nayar Kingdom - Malabar District, Bombay Presidency, British East India (Malabar Coast, India)
18th century - Early 19th century
Iron, wood
Blade: 36,8cm
Hilt & Blade: 51,4cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2020
Collection Number: 121
Ex. Oriental Arms: Haifa, Israel (2020)
Ex. Antony Cribb: Newbury, UK (2019)
Ex. Sworders: Stansted Mountfitchet, UK (2019)
Ex. Private West Country Collection: UK
A rare sword coming from the Malabar Coast attributed to the Hindu Nayar caste near the Kerala Region. The sword’s proper name is "kongkavaal" and shares similarities to the Muslim "moplah" and "ayda katti" swords of the same area. Heavily Hindu in form and iconology, this sword is believed to date to the 18th century. Not much information is written on them, nor are they commonly found compared to other swords more prevalent from the Malabar.
The steel blade, broad in form, is hand- forged and forward curving with a single- edge. A deep fuller spans along the spine. Floral lotus engravings are present on the flared ricasso. Hindu basket hilt type guard, with an elaborately chiseled round iron handguard flanked by outward peering parrots on each side. The knucklebow curling down to the pommel with a bulbed finial. Multi- faceted iron bolster. Extensively fluted curved wooden handle. Iron pommel with a series of stacked plates with upcurling ends. Ending in a single iron central prong.
This example came out of an old collection from the property of a prominent west country collector in the UK. It had previously been part of a display cabinet of 28 arms that had been disassembled and dispersed at multiple auctions in the UK. A rare type of sword with fine details and great age.
[1] https://oriental-arms.com/product/a-good-axe-from-the-malbar-coast/
[4] W. O. Oldman. “Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnographic Specimens”. October 1905: List No. 31; Item #18 (883)
[5] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3553
[6] http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28202&highlight=ayda+katti+moplah+corg