Jade Khanjar
Full Description:
An elegant Mughal ‘Khanjar’ dagger from seventeenth Century India, probably Deccan. Such daggers had become status symbols of members of the Mughal court, and often the emperor would honour a prince, noble, or high official with such a dagger.
The Nephrite Jade hilt in typical ‘pistol-grip’ form, has the light green colour that collectors yearn, and is wonderfully executed in relief carving of unusual flowering blossoms with long central petals.
The wootz blade is unusually heavy for this type of dagger, chiselled at the forte with deep and wide central fullers (some pitting in the fullers). A punch dot armoury marking suggesting that the dagger has at some point been part of the Bikaner armoury, Rajasthan. A later wooden scabbard covered with green silk velvet.