Dagger and Sheath thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Islamic Middle East, Room 42, The Jameel Gallery

Dagger and Sheath

late 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Iran (made)

This dagger is said to have been a gift from Fath Ali Shah to Captain John Malcolm. Malcolm was an officer of the British East India Company, and he concluded the Company's first treaty with the Shah in 1801. A similar dagger formed part of the Iranian crown jewels until the 1979 revolution.


Object details

Category
Arms & Armour
Object type
Dagger and sheath
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Dagger
  • Sheath
Materials and techniques
Steel, gold, enamels and precious stones
Steel
Gold
Enamel
Brief description
Dagger with jewel-encrusted handle and enamelled sheath, Iran, late 18th century.
Physical description
Dagger with jewel-encrusted handle and enamelled sheath
Style
Qajar
Gallery label
  • Old label, reproduced in Register: DAGGER AND SHEATH The blade of watered steel inlaid with gold, the grip of enamelled gold set with precious stones, the sheath of gold enamelled in relief. PERSIAN, early 19th century. Given by the King of Persia to General Sir John Malcolm, when Ambassador at the Persian Court. 1602-1888
  • Jameel Gallery Dagger and Sheath Iran 1750-1800 This dagger is said to have been a gift from Fath Ali Shah to Captain John Malcolm. Malcolm was an officer of the British East India Company, and he concluded the Company's first treaty with the Shah in 1801. Steel, gold, enamel, gemstones; sheath of enamelled gold over wood Museum no. 1602&A-1888(2006-2014)
  • Jameel Gallery Dagger and Sheath Iran 1750–1800 The dagger was a gift from Fath Ali Shah to Captain John Malcolm. Malcolm came to Iran as a representative of the east India Company. He concluded the Company’s first treaty with the Shah in 1801. On a second visit, in 1810, he was the first recipient of the Order of the Lion and Sun. Steel, gold, enamel, gemstones; sheath of enamelled gold over wood. Museum no. 1602&A-1888 (2015)
Summary
This dagger is said to have been a gift from Fath Ali Shah to Captain John Malcolm. Malcolm was an officer of the British East India Company, and he concluded the Company's first treaty with the Shah in 1801. A similar dagger formed part of the Iranian crown jewels until the 1979 revolution.
Bibliographic reference
V.B. Meen and A.D. Tushingham, Crown Jewels of Iran, Toronto, 1968, p. 90.
Collection
Middle East Section
Accession number
1602&A-1888

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 7, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O113962/dagger-and-sheath-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest