A Jade-Hilted Dagger in the form of Horse, India, late 18th or Early 19th Century
Auction Closed
April 29, 12:32 PM GMT
Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
the double-edged curved blade with fine watered steel pattern, central ridge and reinforced tip, the base of the blade cared with rumi arabesque pattern, the blue-grey jade hilt likely consisting of two parts, the connection between guard and grip covered by a gold band set with red stones or paste, the pommel in the form of a horse’s head, the bridle of gold and inlaid with red and green stones or paste, the eyes set with clear stones or paste in silver sockets, the velvet-covered wooden scabbard with steel mounts overlaid with gold
48.2cm.
Philippe Missillier Collection no.45C
Spink and Son, Islamic Art from India, 1980, no.20
H. Ricketts and P. Missillier, Splendeur des Armes Orientales, Paris: Acte-Expo, 1988, p.96, no.154
At the Mughal court, naturalism in the lapidary arts reached its peak during the seventeenth century. Although jade dagger hilts were carved into a variety of animal forms, horses, as the principal animal of warfare, were a particular favourite. Stuart Cary Welch’s study of animal figures in the Padshahnama reveals that daggers with animal hilts were reserved for the Mughal inner circle, especially princes such as Dara Shikoh and Shah Shuja, and sometimes high-ranking officials (Stuart Cary Welch, India: Art and Culture 1300-1900, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985, pp.257-8).
A number of horse-headed jade hilts have come up for auction in recent years, although few as finely carved and decorated as the present example. Most recently, such daggers were sold in these rooms on 25 October 2023, lot 19, and 20 April 2016, lot 144.
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