{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O84464"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O84464/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KC9001/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KC9001/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017KC9001","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9007","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9008","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9009","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9010","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9011","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019ME5943","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019ME5966","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O84464/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O84464","accessionNumber":"3398toB/(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\nIn common with such metal hafted weapons, the haft is hollow and contains a removable stiletto blade secured by a screw thread at the base. Unlike a conventional saddle axe, however, the crowbill has a curved blade which 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":"","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":["2017KC9001","2017KC9007","2017KC9008","2017KC9009","2017KC9010","2017KC9011","2019ME5943","2019ME5966"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES389774"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES389774"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES389774"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Battle axe","id":""}],[{"text":"Battle axe sheath","id":""}],[{"text":"Battle axe","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Sindh","id":"x35001"},"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":"615","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"36","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"30","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"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> or <i>hoolurge</i> with a curved spear-like blade mounted at right angles to the shaft with elephant terminals, chased and gilt steel, Sind, 19th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 138, Cat. No. 716, Pl.xiv."}],"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":["3398(IS)","3398A/(IS)","3398B/(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"3398","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Egerton Catalogue Number","id":"THES50387"},"number":"716"},{"type":{"text":"India Museum Slip Book","id":"THES50388"},"number":"7419A"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Battle axe [1]","Battle axe sheath","Battle axe [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-13","recordCreationDate":"2003-09-25","availableToBook":false}}