Dagger (Jambiya) with Sheath
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Steel, silver, jade, diamond, gold, leather
Dimensions
H. with sheath 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm); H. without sheath 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm); L. of blade 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm); W. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); Wt. 10.8 oz. (306.2 g); Wt. of sheath 2 oz. (56.7 g)
Classification
Daggers
Culture
Indian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
Accession Number
36.25.1051a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th-century Indian, known as a jambiya, exemplifies the lavish craftsmanship of Mughal-era arms and armor. Crafted from steel for the blade, with ornate silver, jade, diamond and gold accents on the hilt and fittings, and a leather sheath, it measures 13⅞ inches with sheath and weighs just over 13 ounces total. Such opulent materials were reserved for nobility, transforming a functional weapon into a symbol of wealth and power. In 18th-century India, under the Mughal Empire's influence, daggers like this jambiya were essential accessories for warriors and elites, often worn at...