A dagger hilt, flower and leaf design carved in low relief, light greyish green nephrite jade, Mughal empire

A sword hilt with a pistol grip, fashioned in light greyish green nephrite jade with flower and leaf decoration carved in low relief on the pommel and adjacent to the scroll-shaped quillons. There is a groove carved into the blade end, which extends along most of the length of the quillons and there is also a hole drilled part way down the length of the handle. There are remnants of glue or resin in the groove and hole suggesting that a blade had once been attached. There is an iron-stained crack extending down the hilt from one of the quliions

This dagger hilt was acquired by William Tayler during his time in India (1829-1867). He subsequently sold it to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1874 for the sum of £6-0-0.

William Tayler was educated in England at Charterhouse and also spent a term at Christ Church, Oxford. He entered service with the East India Company on 30th April 1829, arriving in India in October of the same year. He held various posts in Bengal and was appointed Commissioner of Patna in 1855. During his service, he was able to acquire many objects, including hardstones, relating to the customs and religions of India as well as objects from other parts of South Asia.
He was criticised for his handling of the uprisings in Northern India and was moved to a lesser post before being suspended, ultimately resigning on 29th March 1859. He then practised as an advocate in the law courts of Bengal before returning to England in 1867.
He wrote a book about his experiences, entitled Thirty-eight Years in India, in which he states that "After my return to England, circumstances induced me, though with great reluctance, to part with the collection which is now in the South Kensington Museum".

This dagger hilt was made within the Mughal empire in the late 17th or early 18th century. The nephrite jade would have enhanced the appearance of the dagger, while the weight of the hilt would also have helped to counter-balance the steel blade. Although nephrite is a hard and durable material, one major disadvantage is that it could be liable to damage from sharp impacts.

636-1874