Skip to main content

Dagger: O.1-1998

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

The blade is curved and of T-section at the forte, with a slight reinforced point, cut at the end of the T-section with a stylised lotus bud, and developing a slight medial ridge with a hollow ground at either side towards the point. The hilt has a curved, beaked pommel, with a brass frame, plaques of nephrite at the pommel and blade end, and a central band formed of strips of mother of pearl set with black zig-zags and separated with brass and red enamel bands. The tang button has a copper alloy swivel loop with traces of gilding for a wrist strap.

Notes

History note: Acquired by the donor's grandfather around the time of the Indian Mutiny

Legal notes

Given by Mrs C. McLeod Morley

Measurements and weight

Length: 395 mm
Weight: 436 g

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1998-06-08) by McLeod Morley, Mrs C.

Dating

17th Century, Late
1650 CE - 1699 CE

Note

This type of dagger has a characteristic T section curved blade which was ideally suited for attacking mail armour - the long point forcing an opening and the rigid blade. The hilt is decorated with plaques of nephrite and strips of mother of pearl and has a beak-shaped pommel.

Components of the work

Loop composed of copper ( alloy) gilding ( traces)
Bands composed of enamel ( red) brass (alloy)
Centre Band composed of mother-of-pearl ( set)
Plaques composed of nephrite
Blade composed of steel Length 257 mm
Pommel Frame composed of brass (alloy)

Identification numbers

Accession number: O.1-1998
Primary reference Number: 162315

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 4 May 2021

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Dagger" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/162315 Accessed: 2024-04-27 11:50:15

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/162315 |title=Dagger |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-27 11:50:15|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-162315

More objects and works of art you might like

An image of Dagger

Dagger

Accession Number: GR.211.1892

An image of Dagger (weapon)

Dagger (weapon)

Accession Number: HEN.M.305-1933

An image of Left-hand dagger

Left-hand dagger

Accession Number: HEN.M.310-1933

An image of Left-hand dagger

Left-hand dagger

Accession Number: HEN.M.312-1933

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...

University of Cambridge Museums logo
Cambridge City Council logo
Arts Council England Logo
Research England logo