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Dagger
Maker: Unknown (Blade)
The blade is straight and double edged, fretted with two slots at either side of a medial serpent, and around a lotus bud. The blade is set with four emeralds and five rubies at either side of the forte, and decorated overall with floral panels and inscriptions in thick gold koftgari. The blade bears the date 'sanat 1121' (1709/10 CE).
The hilt comprises a bulbous grip in shagreen, with a medallion of small diamonds in a gilt setting at the centre reading ‘Sultan Selim'. The guard has small forward curved quillons set with various stones and gilded, and a pommel beaked at either side, enamelled in blue, red, pink and yellow in a white ground. The scabbard is of wood covered with shagreen, with large top locket and chape decorated in the same enamel, the chape with a large finial gilt with dark blue and turquoise enamel.
Given by J.R. McClean
Length: 410 mm
Weight: 280 g
Method of acquisition: Given (1973) by McClean, J. R.
18th Century, Early#
18th Century, Late-19th Century, Early#
19th Century
Exact
1709
CE
-
1710
CE
1789
CE
-
1807
CE
The diamond inscription was previously interpreted as 'Sultan Sa’id' but in fact reads, 'Sultan Selim'. This may refer to Sultan Selim III (r. 1789-1807). As the blade is dated 1121 AH (1709-10 CE), it seems likely that the blade was re-hilted (a not uncommon occurrence with blades considered special) during Sultan Selim III’s reign at the end of the 18th century.
This highly decorated dagger has an amazing blade, pierced to create a serpent running up the centre, and set with four emeralds and five rubies. The hilt and scabbard are bound with shark skin (shagreen). The ends of the quillons have stylised elephants heads.
Scabbard
composed of
wood
Medallion
composed of
diamonds
Blade
composed of
emeralds
rubies
Width 270 mm
Chape, Medallion
composed of
gilt
Guard
composed of
gilt
Pommel, Chape
composed of
enamel
Scabbard, Hilt Grip
composed of
shagreen
Chape
Pommel
Inscription present: the date
Inscription present: a medallion of small clear stones (glass?) in a gilt setting at the centre reading ‘Sultan Sa’id’.
Accession number: O.3-1973
Primary reference Number: 162425
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
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IIIF Manifest
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Dagger" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/162425 Accessed: 2024-11-04 18:09:48
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/162425
|title=Dagger
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-04 18:09:48|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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-162425
To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:
<div class="text-center">
<figure class="figure">
<img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa37/O_3_1973_1_200906_mfj22_dc2.jpg"
alt="Dagger"
class="img-fluid" />
<figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Dagger</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
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