Dagger hilt, unfinished, yellowish green, marble or possibly bowenite, Agra India, 19th century

An unfinished dagger hilt, of roughly oval cross section but with one end of the oval being flat and the other end being pointed. The blade-end of the handle is cut square to the length and the other end is rounded and shaped with a downward protrusion. Yellowish green in colour with patterning of sub-translucent and opaque areas, Several superficial cracks are present.

This dagger hilt was acquired by William Tayler during his time in India (1829-1867). He subsequently sold it to the South Kensington Museum in 1874 for the sum of 10 shillings.

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".

The dagger hilt has been fashioned from what was said to be sulphur-coloured marble or "zuhur-mora", a supposed antidote to poison. However, it may be the bowenite variety of serpentine.

678-1874