Bidspirit auction | A SOUTH INDIAN BRASS CEREMONIAL

A SOUTH INDIAN BRASS CEREMONIAL DAGGER WITH KIRTIMUKHA MASK. - A cast and chased brass ceremonial or ritual dagger, featuring a hilt with a spirally fluted grip and a D-shaped knuckle guard. The guard terminates in stylised animal head quillons. At the junction of the hilt and the curved blade is a prominent Kirtimukha (Face of Glory) mask. The blade section is cast from brass with a central longitudinal ridge and decorated with borders of fine punch-work, terminating in a flared tip. The design reflects traditional South Asian iconography combined with a European-influenced hilt form. L: Approximately 27.5cm