{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O452620"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O452620/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR2501/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR2501/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CR2501","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR2507","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O452620/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O452620","accessionNumber":"2573:1, 2/(IS)","objectType":"Sword and sheath","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The <i>kastane</i> is the national sword of Sri Lanka. It typically has a short curved single-edged blade, double-edged at the point. The hilt comprises a knuckle-guard and down-turned quillons, each terminating in a dragon's head. The swords were intended to serve as badges of rank; the quality of ornamentation depending on the status of the wearer. \r\n\r\nThe establishment of European trading contacts with South Asia by the late 16th and early 17th century led to these swords becoming fashionable dress accessories among European gentlemen. A kastane can be seen in an equestrian portrait of Colonel Alexander Popham at Littlecote House in the care of the Royal Armouries Collection (I.315).","physicalDescription":"Sword and sheath <i>kastane</i> with a dragon headed pommel and chased and embossed gold sheath","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"forging (metal forming)","id":"AAT54033"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2009CR2501","2009CR2507"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES339957"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES339957"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sword","id":""}],[{"text":"Kastane","id":""}],[{"text":"Sword sheath","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Kerala","id":"x29830"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Transferred from the India Museum in 1879","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"770","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Sword","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"65","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Sword","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"25","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Sword","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"675","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Sheath","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"55","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Sheath","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"12","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Sheath","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":" ","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"As originally arranged and displayed in Exhibition Road Indian Museum galleries until 1955, with some additions while in storage, case F.701\r\nPresented to the East India Company by the Rajah of Travancore","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sword and sheath <i>kastane</i> with a dragon headed pommel and chased and embossed gold sheath, Travancore, 19th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Egerton, Wilbraham, <i>An illustrated handbook of Indian arms; being a classified and descriptive catalogue of the arms exhibited at the India museum: with an introductory sketch of the military history of India</i>, London, 1880","id":"AUTH353483"},"details":"p.83","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 83, Cat. No. 133"}],"production":"Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["2573:1/(IS)","2573:2/(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"2573","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Egerton Catalogue Number","id":"THES50387"},"number":"133"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Sword","Sword sheath"],"assets":["2018LC0137","2018LC0138"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-13","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}