With a single-edged blade, the upper part clad in silver with chased and chiseled flowering scrolls, the hilt with a hexagonal grip ending in the head of a lion (simha) with protruding gilded eyes and ruby eye pupils, a wide-open mouth and a mane (tip chipped), the quillions and knucklebow ending in flame-spitting yali heads, the smaller cross guards swiping downward. The scabbard displaying scrollwork and large flowers on a punched ground. The chape probably an old restoration. The kasthane, an elaborately silver-worked sword and scabbard, is a dress sword popular in the central Kandy kingdom and coastal areas. Used by Singhalese nobles at royal audiences and receptions at the VOC headquarter, they were also given as diplomatic gifts to European visitors. Thus kasthane entered Europe already by the 17th century. Dimensions Length 66.5 cm Provenance From a Rhenish estate Private collection, Southern Germany Notes VAT: Margin scheme