The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Silapa Sword

1700s–1800s

India

gold with inlay and leather
Overall: 92.7 cm (36 1/2 in.)
Gift of S. D. Wright 1930.705.a
Location: Not on view

Description

The exceptionally thin, curved blade is made of watered steel. The grooves, called fullers, allowed for weight reduction and prevented flexion. The costly hilt is fully overlaid with brass in steel, both inside and outside the knuckle.
  • ?–1930
    Samson D. Wright [1866–1938], Cleveland Heights, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1930–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • “Part II. Fifteenth Annual Report of the Cleveland Museum of Art 1930.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 18, no. 2, 1931, pp. 1–128. Mentioned: p. 33 25137366
  • {{cite web|title=Silapa Sword|url=false|author=|year=1700s–1800s|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1930.705.a