Lot 175. A gem-set jade-hilted dagger (khanjar) and scabbard, North India or Deccan, 1700-1725; 14 ins. (35.5 cm.) long. Estimate USD 800,000 - USD 1,200,000. Price realised USD 915,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019

Set with rubies and emeralds, pierced watered-steel blade fitted with three channels containing free running seed pearls, the velvet-covered wooden scabbard with enamelled gold locket and chape.

Literature: Hales 2013, p.31.

Exhibited: Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p.114, no.90
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p.144, no.92
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p.168, no.96
de Young Legion of Honor, San Francisco 2018, p. 89, no. 31.

Note: This exquisite dagger with its carved scale decoration jade hilt inlaid with rubies has a strong sculpted effect. The hilt is further inlaid with foliage, lotus flowers and poppies set with emeralds and rubies. The rich enamelled sheath fittings have later restorations with foliage on one side and chevron patterns on the other. The free running seeds within the blade are related to Iranian and Ottoman examples dating to sixteenth and seventeenth century, usually referred to as 'the tears of Allah' or 'the tears of the wounded' (Hales, 2013, p.31.).

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019