19th C. Indian Talpur Rifle / Jezail

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CLEARANCE - Ancient, Pre-Columbian, Ethno Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Sep 17, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-09-17 10:00:00 2020-09-17 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : CLEARANCE - Ancient, Pre-Columbian, Ethno Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/clearance---ancient-pre-columbian-ethno-art-5605
End-of-Summer Clearance sale featuring discounted pricing on antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy, and the Near East...plus Viking, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Tribal, Russian Icons, Spanish Colonial, Fine Art, more! Starting prices have been reduced up to 65% from original auction prices. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  **Originally Listed At $700**
  
  Central Asia, Indian and Sindh (now Pakistan), Talpur people, ca. mid 19th century CE. A lovely example of a highly personalized rifle known as a jezail. The lengthy wooden forestock houses the steel barrel inside of a shallow groove with six brass astragals and has a flared muzzle on the end. Within the midsection and handle is the matchlock firing mechanism built with a trigger below the lowest curve of the handle and a petite flash pan just beneath the furthest reach of the matchlock arm. The sweeping triangular backstock is reinforced along the back periphery and shows where its original appliques were applied. Fine patina envelops the entire weapon in lustrous layers of color. Size: 64.7" L x 7.5" H (164.3 cm x 19 cm); (barrel): 48.1" L (122.2 cm); (bore): 0.5" W (1.8 cm)
  
  The jezail was the primary ranged weapon of Talpur and Afghan warriors and was used with great effect against British troops in the Anglo-Afghan Wars. Individual jezails were typically created by the warriors who wielded them by repurposing components like the barrels and firing mechanisms from weapons seized from the British and adding their own unique details to their weapon. Since long-barreled rifles like this were only accurate within a range of 150 feet, Talpur fighters would take positions along clifftops to gain the advantage of elevated concealment. Jezail rifles are considered to be the precursor to the modern long-range sniper rifles, derivatives of such are still used today in areas of northern India like Uttar Pradesh.
  
  For a nice example adorned with gilding and precious stones, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 36.25.2152
  
  Another example of a slightly smaller size hammered for GBP 6,250 ($7,692.50) at Christie's, London "Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets" auction (sale 17177, May 2, 2019, lot 82).
  
  Provenance: private Glorieta, New Mexico, USA collection, acquired in 2019; ex-Bill Henaman collection, Trinidad, Colorado, USA
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #155391

  Condition

  Repair to top section of backstock with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Losses to two brass appliques on backstock and ram rod is fragmentary. Minor nicks and abrasions to barrel, forestock, backstock, and appliques, with light encrustations, and loosening to conical receptacle near trigger. Light earthen deposits and nice patina throughout. Trigger still causes matchlock hammer to fall, however rifle has not been tested for firing functionality.
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