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Dagger with Hilt of Leafy Plants

ca. 1640
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 463
Often tucked into a sash or horseman’s boot, daggers in Mughal India displayed the wealth and power of their owners. The white jade hilt of this dagger is carved with flowers arranged in a formal pattern. A long serrated leaf runs the length of the hilt, following its curve; this curved shape, called a pistol grip, originated in the Deccan and first appeared in Mughal paintings during the reign of Shah Jahan, around the time in which this dagger was made.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Dagger with Hilt of Leafy Plants
  • Date: ca. 1640
  • Geography: Attributed to India
  • Medium: Hilt: Nephrite
    Blade: Watered steel
  • Dimensions: Max length with handle: 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm)
    Length of the Handle: 4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm)
    Length of the Blade: 9 11/16 in. (24.6 cm)
    Width of bottom of the handle: 2 in. (5.1 cm)
  • Classification: Arms and Armor
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Spear Jr. Gift, 1982
  • Object Number: 1982.321
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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