A Mughal jade-hilted dagger, India, 17th century

the curved double-edged watered-steel blade, hilt of green stone with grey inclusions, pommel beautifully rendered in the form of a horse's head with gold mounted gem-set detail to eyes, the mane descending on one side with bridle detail around neck, intricately carved iris flower to forte between small vegetal scroll quillons

Nasli M. Heeramaneck collection

Paris, Acte-Expo, May-July 1988, Splendeur des Armes Orientales

Ricketts, H. and P. Missillier, Splendeur des Armes Orientales, Paris, 1988, p.101, no.164

Daggers with animal hilts were reserved for the use of the highest rank and position at court. According to Stuart Cary Welch the grooves on the grip indicate a date in the second half of the seventeenth century. Stylistically this dagger relates to two daggers in the al-Sabah collection (Keene 2001, p.101, nos. 8.18 and 8.19). Other comparable pieces were sold in these rooms 30 April, 2003, lot 107 and 28 April, 2004, lot 152.