Dagger with Hilt of Leafy Plants
Unknown Artist
ca. 1640
Medium
Hilt: Nephrite Blade: Watered steel
Dimensions
Max length with handle: 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm) Length of the Handle: 4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm) Length of the Blade: 9 11/16 in. (24.6 cm) Width of bottom of the handle: 2 in. (5.1 cm)
Classification
Arms and Armor
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Spear Jr. Gift, 1982
Accession Number
1982.321
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant dagger, created around 1640 and now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Islamic Art collection, exemplifies the refined artistry of arms and armor in the Islamic world. Its hilt, carved from nephrite—a smooth, durable form of jade—features delicate leafy plant motifs that evoke the lush gardens celebrated in Persian and Mughal traditions. The blade, forged from watered steel, displays the distinctive rippling patterns prized for both strength and visual beauty, transforming a functional weapon into a luxurious object. Such daggers served not only as practical tools but also ...