Mughal horse dagger

Description

Indian, Mughal, late 17th century

The blade is of watered steel, double edged and recurved, with a reinforced
point and a medial rib terminating in a lotus bud finial at the forte. The hilt is of a mottled dark green hard stone, probably serpentine, and is carved in the form of a horse’s head.

The scabbard is modern. It is of wood covered with red fabric, with a copper alloy locket and chape.

Dimensions:
overall length 44.0cm (17.3in)
blade length 26.8cm (10.5in)

Weights:
0.496kg (1lb 2oz)

• This khanjar belongs to a large group of Mughal daggers with animal headed hilts, manufactured between 1675 and 1750.
• Most of these hilts are made of jade, rock crystal or agate; this is the only recorded example in serpentine.