Dagger and Sheath
early 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Daggers with a curved blade and a thick, waisted hilt formed part of the standard accoutrements of an Iranian gentleman in the early 19th century. They were worn tucked into the sash that formed a belt around such a man’s coat. Daggers were a sign of status as much as a weapon, and they were often richly decorated. The hilt of this dagger is faced with a shiny metal, perhaps silver, set with what appear to be hardstones, including turquoises. The sheath has glossy lacquer decoration: the wood was coated with gesso, painted in colours and gold, and varnished. Even the blade, which is of fine watered steel – a high-furnaced steel with a surface resembling watered silk – has small areas of decoration inlaid in gold.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Brief description | Middle East, Metalwork. Watered steel blade with gold kuftkari ornament and a silver hilt mounted with stones and turquoises, Iran, 19th century. Arms and armour. Inter-departmental transfer to MES, RF 2011/1170. Middle East, Metalwork. For a Khanjar, polychrome lacquered wood with cartouches of Qajar motifs of waterfowl and a woman holding a flower, on a gold floral ground, Iran, 19th century. Arms and armour. Inter-departmental transfer to MES, RF 2011/1170. |
| Summary | Daggers with a curved blade and a thick, waisted hilt formed part of the standard accoutrements of an Iranian gentleman in the early 19th century. They were worn tucked into the sash that formed a belt around such a man’s coat. Daggers were a sign of status as much as a weapon, and they were often richly decorated. The hilt of this dagger is faced with a shiny metal, perhaps silver, set with what appear to be hardstones, including turquoises. The sheath has glossy lacquer decoration: the wood was coated with gesso, painted in colours and gold, and varnished. Even the blade, which is of fine watered steel – a high-furnaced steel with a surface resembling watered silk – has small areas of decoration inlaid in gold. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 575:1, 2-1876 |
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| Record created | December 11, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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