CENTRAL INDIA, LATE 17TH OR EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

A DECCANI GOLD INLAID STEEL DAGGER (KATAR)
Central India, late 17th or early 18th century
The tapering blade with central ridge and pronounced chevron grooves, the hilt of typical form inlaid with inscription cartouches containing the Nad-i 'Ali prayer flanked by floral sprays, the double grip with further inscription, the crimson and purple velvet covered wooden sheath with gold inlaid steel terminal, scabbard rubbed, especially terminal
Overall 16½in. (42cm.) long

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Lot Essay

The inscriptions on the hilt contain the nada 'Ali quatrain together with Qur'an ch.lxi, parts of v.13.

While the aesthetics of the inlay are those usually associated with the Mughal Court, the prominent use of this Shiite prayer on the hilt makes it probable that this katar was made for a patron from the Deccan or possibly Lucknow. This is confirmed by the similarity of the floral forms to those of two weapons in the al-Sabah COllection (Keene, Manual and Kaoukji, Salam: Treasury of the World, exhibition catalogue, London, 2001, no.7.3, p.88 and no.7.8, p.90).

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