Knife
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1750 - 1800
Materials
Steel, Walrus
Measurements
375 mm (Length)
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1180579
Summary
Knife and scabbard. The knife with walrus ivory grips, the watered steel blade with finely chiselled decoration. On the back of the blade a hawk attacks a crane while a second takes flight above. Beneath, a lion attacks a dear, this motif is also found on the bolsters. The wooden scabbard is covered in black fabric and has chased silver mounts with designs of domed pavillions set amongst decorative foliage and looking out over streams, and with traced of niellod; the chape with scalloped down-turned collar, the locket with scrolled top. Iran second half of the 18th century. See 'Treasures from India' catalogue, p.45.
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.