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Lot 191

A Mughal jade hilted sheep head dagger (khanjar)
North India, 18th/ 19th Century

25 October 2021, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

£35,000 - £45,000

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A Mughal jade hilted sheep head dagger (khanjar)
North India, 18th/ 19th Century

the double-edged steel blade of curved form, decorated in gold overlay with a cartouche containing foliate motifs to the forte, the blackish grey jade hilt with curved foliate quillons and a flowerhead in between composed of cabochon rubies set in gold kundan, the pommel carved in the form of a sheep head with naturalistic detailing including a halter, the eyes inlaid with rubies, the wood scabbard clad entirely in velvet, in fitted case
35.8 cm. long

Footnotes

Pommels in the form of animal heads were popular in the Mughal empire, most likely for ceremonial purposes. Naturalistically rendered sheep heads, such as the present lot, in particular seemed to be favoured alongside other animals such as horses and deers.

Further examples can be seen in Robert Hales' Islamic and Oriental arms and armour, a lifetime's passion, 2013, pp. 41-2

Additional information