Daggers: Dressed to Kill
Explore the history and symbolism behind these ornate weapons, from Mughal courts to European royalty.
Dagger with scabbard (Timurid) Dagger with Scabbard (1580/1600) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
This story examines the evolution of ornate daggers, tracing their use as symbols of power and favor from Mughal India to European royal courts.
In the Mughal courts, ornate daggers were gifted by the emperor as a sign of royal favour and rank.
This dagger may have belonged to the 5th Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, who ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent from 1628 to 1658.
The connection is based on a portrait of Shah Jahan, showing a similarly shaped jewelled dagger at his waist – also topped with the head of a haṃsa (a goose-like bird).
Jewelled Dagger Top of Hilt (1615) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
The rich decoration of gold, emeralds, rubies and diamonds would also point to a royal owner.
Jewelled Dagger Hilt Detail of Lion (1615) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
A lion on the sword’s hilt features superbly carved rubies in the shape of the animal’s eyes, nose and whiskers.
Following the sack of Delhi by the Persian ruler Nadir Shah in 1739, the might and wealth of the Mughal Empire declined.
Regional courts gained more importance and the North Indian city of Lucknow became a thriving centre of art and trade.
This dagger belonged to Claude Martin (1735-1800) who was superintendent of the Lucknow arsenal and an important patron of the arts.
Dagger with scabbard ( Mughal) Dagger with Scabbard (1620/1640) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
His ownership inscription is found on the hilt.
Dagger with scabbard ( Mughal) Dagger with scabbard (1620/1640) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
The hilt is carved from a single piece of rock crystal and the rubies were applied using the kundan gem setting technique, which uses hyper-purified gold.
The purity of the gold makes it extremely malleable and allows it to adhere to a surface at room temperature, ideal for hardstones that could not withstand high heat.
Henri IV's Parrying Dagger Parrying Dagger (1599) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
Daggers played an important role in social customs and could be gifted to commemorate an important event.
This dagger was presented to King Henri IV of France (1553-1610) by the city of Paris, on the occasion of his marriage to Marie de’ Medici in 1600.
Henri IV's Parrying Dagger Detail of Intials (1599) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
Their marriage was an important alliance for the King, as it absolved him of his enormous debts to the new queen’s family – the wealthy Medicis.
Their union is expressed on the dagger, which contains the monograms of both Henri IV and Marie de’ Medici.
Henri IV's Parrying Dagger Detail of Intials (1599) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
His is a crowned double H...
Henri IV's Parrying Dagger Parrying Dagger (1599) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
…and hers is a double M.
The mother of pearl decoration adds an iridescent shimmer against the blued steel.
The identities of the former owners of a dagger are often unknown, as is the case with this example, likely produced in Iran or Central Asia in the late 15th century.
Dagger with scabbard (Timurid) Dagger with scabbard (1480/1500) by UnknownThe Wallace Collection
It is clear from the extremely fine gold decoration that it was made in an imperial workshop.
Hares and jackals have been carefully chiselled into the blade.
Dagger with scabbard (Timurid) Dagger with scabbard (1480/1500) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
And a human’s face is noticeable amongst the foliage. This motif is associated with the mythical wāqwāq tree, which combined humans, animals and vegetation.
At a much later date, the hilt was cut back to add a silver collar with green imitation gems.
It was not uncommon to make alterations to a dagger. Hilts, blades and scabbards were often swapped out due to wear or changes in fashion.
Dagger with scabbard (Timurid) Dagger with Scabbard (1580/1600) by Unknown Artist / MakerThe Wallace Collection
This combination of disparate components can provide insight into the many journeys of a single dagger and the tastes of its past owners.
Detail of Sword of Henry, Prince of Wales (1610/1612) by Clement Horn and Possibly Robert South, (hilt)The Wallace Collection
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