{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O16043"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O16043/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU7645/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU7645/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU7645","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O16043/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O16043","accessionNumber":"IS.10-1980","objectType":"Ceremonial staff or fencing stick","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Scholars are divided over how people used this piece. The fact that it is richly decorated and mounted with enamel suggests that it was intended for display. It might therefore possibly be a ceremonial staff such as a stick-bearer (<i>chobdar</i>) carried.  <i>Chobdars</i> waited on people of quality, processed before them and announced visitors into their presence.  This stick also has a hilt, which suggests that it might have been intended for lakri, a combat game played with wooden sticks.   Indians in Lucknow learned and practised two types of lakri. <i> Ali mad</i> was played by the ruling classes. It derived from the Persian martial art of <i>phankainti</i> in which each player kept the left foot fixed to one place.  <i>Rustam khani</i> was the less formal Indian variation of the sport, and players were allowed to change their positions.  This stick has delicate surface decoration, so it was probably for display rather than use.","physicalDescription":"Fencing stick made of wood covered with cloth, gessoed and painted, with pommel spike and ferrule of champlevé enamel on silver.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood, covered with cloth, gessoed and painted, with pommel spike and ferrule of champlevé enamel on silver","categories":[{"text":"Ceremonial objects","id":"THES48981"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AU7645"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES403500"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Audience staff","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lucknow","id":"x32012"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1750-1780","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1780-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"135","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Exercise with fencing stick was one of the traditional pastimes of Lucknow.  May be a Ceremonial staff.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Ceremonial staff or fencing stick, made of wood, gessoed and painted, with pommel spike and ferrule silver enamel, Lucknow, 1750-1780.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, J., and Swallow, D., (eds). ‘Arts of India: 1550-1900’. London : Victoria and Albert  Museum, 1990. ISBN 1851770224., p.183, pl.159."},{"reference":{"text":"Skelton, Robert, et al, <i>The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule</i> London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982","id":"AUTH352798"},"details":"p. 137, cat. no. 455, Rosemary Crill","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Luxury goods from India : the art of the Indian cabinet maker / Amin Jaffer. London: V&A Publications, 2002 Number: 1851773819","id":"AUTH332756"},"details":"pp.76-77, ill.","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"figures","id":"x31098"},{"text":"floral patterns","id":"AAT10135"},{"text":"foliation (pattern)","id":"AAT165104"},{"text":"boats","id":"AAT178749"},{"text":"animals","id":"x30274"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.10-1980"],"accessionNumberNum":"10","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1980,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"1999-12-15","availableToBook":true}}