Press Releases

August 1, 2003, Contact: Sara Murphy, (508) 853-6015 ext. 26, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From Elephants to Crystal, Higgins Armory Exhibition Showcases The Best of South Asian Craftmanship

WORCESTER, Mass., August 1, 2003 - The allure of elephants, legends of mighty swords and the cultural richness of the Indian subcontinent is showcased in the upcoming Higgins Armory Museum exhibition, The Passage to India: The Arms and Armor of South Asia. On view October 23, 2003 to June 20, 2004, this gathering of visually and technically distinct examples of arms and armor, from the age of the Taj Mahal to the British Empire, includes many pieces of the Higgins collections that have never before been on display.

The Indian subcontinent, which encompasses today's Pakistan, Afganistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, was, and is still today, an area rich in religious and cultural beliefs. From the Dhu al-fiqar "the cloven blade", a sword with a split blade said to have come to prophet Muhammed in a dream, to the Nepalese kukri (military knife), a probable presentation piece for a British officer, the diverse ingenuity of the South Asian craftsmen is shown throughout the exhibition.

"This exhibition offers a glimpse at a region that has been a magnet for global attention for millennia, attracting traders and invaders, the ambitious, the faithful and the curious, to a region whose traditions run deep" said Paul S. Morgan Curator, Jeffrey L. Forgeng, co-curator of the exhibition. "At first, the westerner entering among these pieces will be have the impression of kaleidoscopic, almost chaotic variety. Islamic pieces brush shoulders with Hindu, Persian influences with Portuguese, stylistic themes suggestive of southeast Asia with those reminiscent of Arab art."

Many of the arms are highly decorated with patterns or words, scenes, symbols and animals, and some are illuminated with silver, gold, brass, copper and enamel, encrusted with semi-precious stones, carved out of crystal or molded into animal forms. One of the most beautiful examples of this decorative style is a white jade hilt with a flower pattern composed of rubies and emeralds. Elephants were regularly the species of choice for craftsmen. Often the backbone of a South Asian army, elephants were commonly found on weapons. In the Passage to India exhibition, the elephant can be found on a hunting broadsword, a 17th century horseman's axehead, a matchlock musket, a bhuj or dagger, and a goad often used by the mahout or elephant driver.

It is not only the design and visual appeal of these pieces that is so captivating. The base material of some of the weapons is "Damascus" steel, a highly coveted metal that produced extremely strong blades with particularly sharp edges. This steel, which is properly called "wootz" or crucible steel, actually originated in India, but was known to westerners through importers and blademakers in the Syrian city of Damascus. One such piece in the exhibition is a spectacular talwar (Islamic-style sword) with alternating grades of white and dark steel in a chevron pattern up the blade.

Those who produced such effective weapons also needed great defense from bodily harm. This came in the form of mail shirts and leg defenses, round shields, kulah khuds (helmets) and solid forearm guards. Though its main purpose was to offer protection, each piece of armor was also a work of art--shields and guards were carved with intricate patterns and helmets were adorned with horns or other ornamentations and included a flexible curtain of mail (or aventail) to safeguard the back of the neck.

Imagination and fantasy also plays a part in shaping the design of weapons. This is demonstrated in the creation of the zafar takieh or "fakir's crutch", a short cane or crutch that concealed a dagger, the "scissors" katar that opens to reveal a hidden blade when the handle is squeezed, and the bagh-nahk or "tiger claw", a hand-held replication of animal claws.

Today, the South Asian region is becoming an increasingly notable cultural and economic force, yet it is still unfamiliar to many American audiences. Known for its bright colors and aromatic cuisine, South Asian culture is progressively finding its way into the United States as the immigration rate from the area continually rises. The Higgins Armory is working closely with the India Society of Worcester in the production of accompanying programs (see separate sheet), and hopes to further foster the awareness of this region in its visitors. Special thanks to Richard Wagner for his generosity of lending pieces for this exhibition.