Dagger
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1630 - 1670
Materials
Enamel, Gold, Gold thread, Jade, Onyx, Ruby, Silk, Silver thread, Steel
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1180574
Summary
A dagger and scabbard. The dagger with white nephrite jade hilt, terminating in a goat's head with onyx eayes and set with ruby in gold; the grip with two gold flowers enamelled with translucent red and green and opaque white. The bolsters of the single-edged watered steel blade are overlaid with gold cranes and flowers. Tassels of gold and silver thread attached to the hilt. The scabbard covered with red velvet and with gilt locket. (See Tex.Cat.T/178 i/ii.) Mughal, mid 17th century. Exhibitions - Victoria and Albert Museum 'Indian Heritage', 1982, No,409 pg.128; Cliffe Castle, Keighley, No.124; New York, Sotherby's Sept.1985; Washington 'Treasure Houses', 1985-6. See 'Treasures from India' catalogue, p.42.
Provenance
Part of the indigenous collection of Powis Castle which Edward Henry Herbert, 5th Earl of Powis agreed with the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue to be accepted in part satisfaction to the extent of £158,400 of the Estate duty for which he was accountable in connection with the death of the Right Honourable George Charles, 4th Earl of Powis, on 9th November 1952. Acceptance was effected when the objects were delivered in good condition to the Representative of the Treasury. The contract of the 'Offer of Property in Satisfaction of Estate Duty under the National Land Fund Scheme' was completed on 21st March 1963. This collection of chattels was accepted in lieu of tax by Her Majesty's Treasury and immediately transferred to the ownership of the National Trust on 29th November 1963 as the Treasury saw it desirable that the objects should remain associated with Powis Castle. Agreed by National Trust, Powis Estate Trustees and John George Herbert, 8th Earl of Powis in 25th June 2009 that this item is part of the collection of items transferred to the Treasury in 1963 and therefore owned by the National Trust.