Dagger and sheath with hilt of white nephrite jade set with rubies, emeralds and colourless stones (possibly rock crystal) in floral designs, sheath of wood covered in red fabric, with very pale green nephrite, emeralds, rubies, colourless stones and gold, Mughal, 18th century.

A dagger and sheath.
The dagger is well balanced with a slightly downward curving, double-edged steel blade with a slightly upward curving tip. For much of the length from the hilt, the blade has been doubly recessed (double fuller) but it is otherwise free of adornment except for small marks on either side of the blade at the junction with the hilt. The blade is set into a white nephrite hilt, of pistol grip form, which continues along the same downward curve, ending in a pommel with a downward scroll. At the blade's junction with the hilt, the quillons flare slightly on top and bottom to form two small scrolls. The hilt is adorned with a floral design composed of inset gold wire, 45 emeralds, 5 of 6 rubies (1 is missing) and 134 colourless stones, all set into mirrored, closed-back settings many of which had also at one time been coloured but have now faded.
The sheath is of wooden construction and has been covered in a red, woven fabric with a small, triangular, fabric pocket fitted on one side. Both ends have been set into pale greyish green nephrite that has been inset with gold wire and a total of 3 of 4 emeralds (1 missing), 18 rubies and 46 colourless stones, again in mirrored, closed settings many of which had, at one time, been coloured. On one side at the open end, the centre of a flower that would normally have been a colourless stone has been set with a short, square, faceted post of nephrite that has been drilled through one pair of sides.

Transferred from the India Museum in 1879

Presented by the Marquis of Hastings to the Indian Museum in 1850. Indian Museum slip number 8524. Transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879.

Presented by the Marquis of Hastings to the East India Company in 1850. Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879

This Mughal dagger has a hilt of pale green nephrite jade set with rubies and emeralds in gold, in a form typical of the late 17th or early 18th century. It was presented by the Marquess of Hastings to the East India Company in 1850, and transferred from the Company's Indian Museum to the South Kensington Museum in 1879.

3467(IS) to 3467A/(IS)