dagger

dagger

1700s
Country
India
Object
dagger
Medium
Steel and Jade
Accession Number
1966.3A
Credit Line
Museum Purchase for the Charles F. Ramus Collection
dagger. 1700s. Steel and Jade. Museum Purchase for the Charles F. Ramus Collection. 1966.3A.
Dimensions
overall length: 14 1/2 in, 36.83 cm; handle length: 5 1/8 in, 13.0175 cm; height: 2 1/2 in, 6.35 cm; width: 1 1/8 in, 2.8575 cm
Department
Arts of Asia
Collection
Arts of Asia

Dagger
1700s, Mughal dynasty (1526–1857)
India
Steel and jade
Museum purchase for Charles F. Ramus Collection
1966.3A

The Mughal Empire was founded early in the 1500s; in the following century, the arts flourished under Jahangir (reigned 1605–1627) and even more so under his successor, Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal. During this period, jade from Hetian was fashioned into bowls, bottles, dagger handles, and other objects by Indian craftsmen who were accustomed to working with hard stones. This type of dagger was probably used as a presentation piece rather than as a weapon. The exchange of gifts of this type in the Mughal court was quite common.