Dagger (Khanjar) with Sheath

Dagger (Khanjar) with Sheath

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The hilt of this dagger has been attributed to the court workshops patronized by the nawab of Oudh at Lucknow, in northern India, in about 1785. Its form and decoration, however, were traditional in many courts in Mughal and Deccani states in the eighteenth century. The pale green nephrite jade hilt inlaid with rubies and emeralds is noteworthy for its delicacy and restraint.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dagger (Khanjar) with SheathDagger (Khanjar) with SheathDagger (Khanjar) with SheathDagger (Khanjar) with SheathDagger (Khanjar) with Sheath

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.