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Lot 181

A gold koftgari-hilted steel dagger (bichwa)
Deccan, 18th Century

23 May 2023, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £10,240 inc. premium

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A gold koftgari-hilted steel dagger (bichwa)
Deccan, 18th Century

the double-edged steel blade of curved form with chiselled fullers and widening towards the point, the steel hilt with large convex guard with sharp palmette to one side, the pommel of bulbous form, profusely decorated to the hilt with floral sprays and floral motifs, the grip with red fabric
40.1 cm. long

Footnotes

The large gold-overlaid circular floral motifs on the handguard of this bichwa are reminiscent of those inlaid in silver and gold on bidri vessels such as a huqqa base sold at Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art, 2 April 2009, lot 233. These types of bidri designs later found their way onto Deccani jade dagger hilts such as one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (36.25.667). This makes it likely that the present lot was made for a Muslim patron, which is unusual for a dagger of this type.

Additional information