Dagger
Animal-head daggers came into fashion at the Mughal court in the second quarter of the seventeenth century. Horses were the most popular subject, followed by nilgai (a large antelope from India), lions, tigers, goats, and camels, usually carved from nephrite jade, serpentine, marble, or ivory. This dagger is exceptional in that its hilt is made entirely of iron. The lion’s mane retains traces of silver, and its deep-set eyes were formerly jeweled.
Artwork Details
- Title: Dagger
- Date: second half 17th century
- Culture: Indian, Deccan
- Medium: Steel, iron, silver, copper alloy
- Dimensions: H. 14 3/16 in. (36 cm); W. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); Wt. 12.8 oz. (362.9 g)
- Classification: Daggers
- Credit Line: Purchase, The Sulzberger Foundation Inc. Gift, 1994
- Object Number: 1994.26
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Indian, Mughal
1605–27
Hilt, Indian, Mughal; blade, Turkish or Indian
late 17th century
Indian, Mughal
17th century
hilt, possibly India; blade, possibly European
possibly 1790
Indian, Hyderabad
dated A.H. 1192/ 1778–79 CE
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