Not currently on display at the V&A

Dagger and Sheath

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Gwalior (made)

The shape of the bich'wa is derived from ancient daggers made of curved buffalo horn. The name is generally taken to mean 'scorpion sting' alluding to its shape and lethality which makes the dagger an excellent close quarter weapon.


Object details

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

  • Dagger
  • Dagger Sheath
Brief description
Dagger and sheath bich'hwa with a hilt decorated with gold and silver kuftkari, in a blue velvet sheath with silver-gilt mounts, Gwalior, 19th century.
Gallery label
Dagger bichwa: double curved blade; gold & silver damascening; three tassels of silver & crimson thread; blue velvet sheath; embossed silver gilt mounts, Gwalior. 3498 I.S.(pre 1993)
Credit line
Transferred from the India Museum in 1879
Object history
As originally arranged and displayed in Exhibition Road Indian Museum galleries until 1955, with some additions while in storage, case F.705
Production
Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879
Summary
The shape of the bich'wa is derived from ancient daggers made of curved buffalo horn. The name is generally taken to mean 'scorpion sting' alluding to its shape and lethality which makes the dagger an excellent close quarter weapon.
Bibliographic references
  • Egerton, Wilbraham, An illustrated handbook of Indian arms; being a classified and descriptive catalogue of the arms exhibited at the India museum: with an introductory sketch of the military history of India, London, 1880 p.116
  • Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 116, Cat. No. 491
Other numbers
  • 491 - Egerton Catalogue Number
  • 7448 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
3498:1&:2/(IS)

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Record createdOctober 2, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O84636/dagger-and-sheath-unknown/
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