Dagger with scabbard ( Mughal) Dagger with scabbard

The hilt of this magnificent Mughal dagger is fashioned from a single piece of rock crystal, inlaid with gold and set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. The name ‘Claud Martin’ is lightly inscribed on one panel of the stone; Claude Martin was a Frenchman who fought against the British in India, but changed sides following the siege and fall of Pondicherry in 1760–1. He joined the army of the British East India Company as an ensign, working his way up through the ranks to become major-general in charge of the Lucknow Arsenal. He is recorded as having been an enthusiastic collector of princely Indian arms and armour, and this dagger was once his.

The hilt of this magnificent Mughal dagger is fashioned from a single piece of rock crystal, inlaid with gold and set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. The name ‘Claud Martin’ is lightly inscribed on one panel of the stone; Claude Martin was a Frenchman who fought against the British in India, but changed sides following the siege and fall of Pondicherry in 1760–1. He joined the army of the British East India Company as an ensign, working his way up through the ranks to become major-general in charge of the Lucknow Arsenal. He is recorded as having been an enthusiastic collector of princely Indian arms and armour, and this dagger was once his.