A steel-hilted sword (talwar) and scabbard, India, 18th century

the fine curved watered-steel blade decorated the full length with chiselled cusped cartouches framing Hindu deities and inscriptions, the talwar hilt with baluster grip, broad crossguard, elongated forte and disc pommel decorated with overlaid gold oval medallions enclosing poppy flowers on a matted gold ground, foliate openwork loop to pommel with attached velvet suspension loop, the velvet-covered wood scabbard decorated with a gold thread braid with tassel terminals and koftgari decorated chape