{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O474648"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O474648/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019ME6462/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019ME6462/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019ME6462","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019ME6478","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O474648/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O474648","accessionNumber":"3505(IS)","objectType":"Battle axe","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"As better defensive armour was adopted, so more effective weapons were developed to counter it. The <i>crowbill</i> was a variety of saddle or poll axe intended primarily for use as a close quarter weapon from horseback. As such it was one variety of saddle axes widely adopted by cavalry fighting in the Indo-Persian tradition. \r\nThe crowbill has a thickened, armour piercing blade. Unlike a conventional saddle axe, the crowbill has no hammer head opposite the blade. The elephant motif has a practical as well as symbolic function. The figure counterbalances the blade as well as symbolises strength. There may also be an allusion to the elephant-headed Hindu deity Ganesh as 'Remover of obstacles'.\r\nThe curved blade could be used either in sweeping, hooking attacks overarm or with an underarm polo-like swinging motion at approximately head height. The devastating results of such attacks at speed from horseback against opponents on foot can only be imagined.","physicalDescription":"Battle axe or crowbill <i>zaghnal</i> or <i>hoolurge</i> The forged steel head is composed of a curved ribbed steel blade thickened at the point attached by a chiselled, square section collar to a plain wooden haft with a turned spherical pommel or knop. The blade is counterbalanced on the other side of the collar with a small steel elephant figure with a raised trunk.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"forging (metal forming)","id":"AAT54033"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel on a wooden shaft","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2019ME6462","2019ME6478"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES389779"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Battle axe","id":""}],[{"text":"Zaghnal","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Kolhapur","id":"x37003"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"probably 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":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"As originally arranged and displayed in Exhibition Road Indian Museum galleries until 1955, with some additions while in storage, case F.710","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Battle axe <i>Zaghnal</i> steel on a wooden shaft, Kolhapur, probably 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.115, Pl.x","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 115, Cat. No. 471, Pl.x"}],"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":[{"text":"elephants","id":"x30316"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["3505(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"3505","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Egerton Catalogue Number","id":"THES50387"},"number":"471"},{"type":{"text":"India Museum Slip Book","id":"THES50388"},"number":"8,651"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}