Dagger (Jambiya)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

While figural representations are uncommon in Islamic art outside of painting, human figures are regularly encountered in Iranian art from the Qajar period (1797–1925), which was strongly influenced by European models. The ivory grip of this dagger is carved with the figure of a Sufi mystic, who is identifiable from his pointed hat, staff topped with a hoopoe (an exotic bird mentioned in the Qur'an), and beggar’s bowl suspended on his arm. One of the carved inscriptions alludes to the weapon’s power: “The handle of your dagger is world-seizing.”

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art