Dagger
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1800 - 1900
Materials
silver, niello & steel
Measurements
300 mm (H); 37 mm (W); 30 mm (D)
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 107236
Summary
Burmese single blade dagger. The hilt has a simple tubular grip with intricate niello inlay of geometric leaf pattern with female dancer on one side and bird on the other. On both sides of the blade there is continuous panel of inlay depicting mythical animals and birds. The detail of this dagger would suggest that is was used for special occasions such as festivals, or for ornamentation rather than for functional use. 'A dagger (Dha) with nielloed silver handle and silver sheath - Burmese (Toungoo)' (Christie's entry)
Provenance
Purchased in 1986 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000). Gifted to the National Trust in 1987 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.