A magnificent Mughal ruby- and emerald-set gold-hilted dagger, Deccan, India, 17th century, with 19th century scabbard

A magnificent Mughal ruby- and emerald-set gold-hilted dagger, Deccan, India, 17th century, with 19th century scabbard

curved double-edged blade with central ridge and damascened floral decoration around the forte, the hilt of yellow gold with curved rounded pommel set with rubies and emeralds with rosette and floral motifs, the wood scabbard decorated with open-work gold of all-over vegetal and lotus blossom design terminating in a bud finial; 36cm. Estimzte 80,000—100,000 USD

NOTE: This very fine and rare gold-hilted dagger was probably made in the Deccan for the Mughal court. A stylistically similar seventeenth-century gold-hilted dagger is in the al-Sabah Collection (exhibited: Treasury of the World: Jewelled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals, London, 2001, no.13.10). The al-Sabah Collection dagger is similarly decorated in overlaid gold with a feathery leaf detailing to the forte and displays an analogous floral and foliate design set with jewels on the pommel.

A further related seventeenth-century gold-hilted dagger attributed to Hyderabad is in the Khalili Collection (exhibited: Heaven on Earth: Art from Islamic Lands, London, 2004, no.118; and, Splendeurs des Armes Orientales, Paris, 1988, no.157). The Khalili Collection dagger's hilt and scabbard mounts are adorned with an all-over lotus blossom pattern similar to the one found on the scabbard of the present piece.

Sotheby's. Arts of the Islamic World. 19 Mar 09. Doha www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's