Inlaid jade dagger hilt

Title
Inlaid jade dagger hilt
Year/Period
19th century
Region
North India
Object Type
Dimension
Object size: L13 x W6cm
Accession No.
1993-01750
Credit Line
Purchased with funds from the Indian Bank, Singapore

Here we see a beautiful hilt which is part of a set of three. Daggers such as this, like swords are weapons used for aggression, self-defense as well as for ceremonial use. Such embellished daggers were also given as gifts by nobles to the emperor or by the emperor to his favourite commanders. Many royal and noble personages can be seen wearing or using such weapons throughout Mughal period paintings.