Knife
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1700 - 1800
Materials
Gold, Steel, Walrus
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1180583
Summary
A knife and scabbard. The knife with walrus-ivory hilt, the steel blade with gold decoration on the bolsters (similar decoration to AA.31.1). The scabbard covered in red velvet and gilt locket and chape with pierced gilt steel swivel. Northern India, 18th century. Northern India, 18th century. See 'Treasures from India' catalogue, p.46.
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.