Dagger
Indian
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1630 - 1670
Materials
Steel, jade, enamel and gems
Measurements
410 mm (H)
Place of origin
India
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1180574.1
Summary
A 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. 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 / no.17.
Provenance
Collected by Robert Clive. Mentioned in 1774 as 'A Curious Dagger wh Goatshead curiously carv'd large ruby on the head and 2 Sardonyx eyes' and 1775 inventories : 'a Dagger with Goat's head handle of Agate and one Ruby.'. Accepted by HM Treasury on 21st March, 1963 in lieu of tax and conveyed to National Trust ownership on 29th November 1963.
Makers and roles
Indian , maker