Dagger: O.148-1879

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

• Dagger
• Indian weapons
• chilanum

Categories

• Weapons

Description

Hilt and blade are made in one piece of steel. The blade is double edged and double curved, with a chevron of six deep fullers down most of its length and slightly reinforced point. At the forte the blade widens into bud-like wings with piercings at either side. The hilt is waisted, with a central squashed globular knop with double mouldings at either side, and has symmetrical curved winged guard and pommel, The flange between the wings of the pommel was extended into a finial now broken off. The blade is polished bright with pitting from its earlier corrosion. There are traces of incised decoration on the forte. There is a trace of copper on the pommel, and where the finial is broken off a crystalline structure suggesting the dagger was cast.

Notes

History note: From Ganjam. Probably from Tanjore arsenal

Legal notes

Given by Robert Taylor, MA

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1879) by Taylor, Robert, MA

Dating

16th Century, Late
Circa 1560 CE - 1600 CE

Note

Compare Metropolitan Museum of Art New York no 36.25.751 from the Stone, Oldman and Walhouse collections, the lavishly decorated 36.25.6AB in the same collection and one from a private collection (Elgood 2004: 178–80, figs 16.32, 16.36 and 16.38). Also compare O.151-1879 from this group, of the same form.