Dagger and sheath in the Indo-Persian style, by Joseph Roucou, France (Paris), ca. 1851

Dagger and sheath in the Indo-persian form decorated with damascening reminiscent of 16th century Syrian metalwork. The blade is made of watered steel and damascened (overlaid) with gold, the sheath and mounts of iron are oxidised and overlaid with gold. The grip is in polished ivory.

Bought for £12 from the Great Exhibition, London, 1851. The design is based on Indian and Persian daggers.

Roucou exhibited works at The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations in 1851. The 'Reports by the Juries on the Subjects in the Thirty Classes Into Which the Exhibition Was Divided' published in 1852, recorded his award-winning gold and silver inlaid pieces:
"Inlaid Works in Metal: J. Roucou (1689, p. 1257). Different kinds of arms, such as pistols, inlaid with gold and silver ornaments, in very refined taste, and executed with rare mastery of hand. Prize Medal."

Made for the Great Exhibition. The design is based on Indo-Persian daggers.

This French dagger is in the form of older Persian daggers and is decorated with damascening remininscent of mid 16th-century Venetian work. It is one of the Museum's earlier acquisitions and was bought directly from the Great Exhibition in 1851 for £12 at a time when Parisian metalworking was compared favourably with English work for quality.

169:1,2-1851