Dagger (Khanjar)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sheep's head pommel of this dagger is extremely distinctive and rare. The great majority of Indian and Persian khanjar daggers have smooth hilts and rounded pommels. While there are also many examples with zoomorphic pommels, the majority take the form of a horse's head, or, occasionally, a lion's head. In addition, the animal elements of most zoomorphic khanjar hilts are rendered in a very refined, delicate, and stylized manner. In contrast to this, the carving of the sheep's head on this dagger is done in a very lively, naturalistic, and animated style, giving the hilt an immediate visual appeal as a piece of sculpture. The hilt is marble, which is also unusual, most khanjar daggers having jade hilts. The blade is gently recurved, with a raised medial ridge and a thickened tip that is a flattened lozenge in cross-section.

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