Dagger
Daggers with curled “pistol-grip” pommels became popular in the court of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (r. 1658–1707) around 1660 and regularly appeared in the portraits of Mughal and Deccani officials thereafter. The jade grip of this dagger is inlaid with silver foliate motifs set flush with the surface, a technique that recalls contemporary Bidri ware (from Bidar, in the Deccan), cast zinc vessels that are similarly inlaid with silver and gold.
Artwork Details
- Title: Dagger
- Date: 17th–18th century
- Geography: possibly Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
- Culture: Indian, Deccan, possibly Hyderabad
- Medium: Steel, nephrite, silver, gold
- Dimensions: H. 13 13/16 in. (35.1 cm); H. of blade 9 in. (22.9 cm); W. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm); Wt. 13.1 oz. (371.4 g)
- Classification: Daggers
- Credit Line: Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
- Object Number: 36.25.667
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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blade, possibly Iranian; guard and decoration on blade, Turkish; grip, Indian
blade, 18th–19th century; guard and decoration on blade, 19th century; grip, 18th century
Indian, Mughal
1605–27
grip, Indian; guard, scabbard, and decoration on blade, Turkish; blade, Iranian
grip, 18th or 19th century; guard and scabbard, 19th century; blade, dated A.H. 1099/1688 CE; decoration on blade, 19th century
Indian, Sindh (now Pakistan)
late 18th–first half of the 19th century
Hilt, Indian, Mughal; blade, Turkish or Indian
late 17th century
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