Tray of Jeweled Daggers

Turkish

Not on view

This opulent array of daggers belongs to a large group of flamboyant gem-studded weapons that were probably made in Istanbul in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. Their traditional shapes and luxurious materials were intended to evoke romantic notions of the exotic orient, Arabian Nights, or perhaps the sultan’s treasury. As most of these weapons are found today in American and European collections rather than in Turkish museums, they may have been made exclusively for Western tourists.

Tray of Jeweled Daggers, Steel, copper alloy, gold, silver, jade, rock crystal, gemstones, glass, Turkish

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Overall view with daggers displayed on tray