NORTH OR CENTRAL INDIA, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A MUGHAL IVORY HILTED KNIFE
NORTH OR CENTRAL INDIA, 18TH CENTURY
The tapering single-edged steel blade with small gold damascened flower on the spine, the thin walrus ivory hilt with chequered band above and below, the separate terminal carved in the form of a goat's head, the eyes inset with rubies, traces of colour especially on the horns, slight pitting to blade, terminal slightly loose
9¼in. (23.4cm.) long

Special notice

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Lot Essay

A very similar knife, dating from the 17th century, and with the hilt executed in jade, was exhibited in Geneva (Toby Falk (ed.), Treasures of Islam, exhibition catalogue, Geneva, 1985, no.322, p.310). The catalogue entry to that example notes a miniature in the Victoria and Albert Museum from the Minto Album which shows Jahangir as a young man wearing just such a knife (inv. no. IM 28-1925).

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