A FINE NORTH INDIAN JADE-HILTED DAGGER (PESH KABZ), THIRD QUARTER OF THE 18TH CENTURY

A FINE NORTH INDIAN JADE-HILTED DAGGER (PESH KABZ), THIRD QUARTER OF THE 18TH CENTURY with finely watered single-edged blade formed with a reinforced back-edge, inlaid with a silver inscription and a cartouche filled with scrolling flowers and foliage at the forte on each face, the back-edge with a further inscription and lotus flowers, finely figured dark green hilt, perhaps Serpentine, formed with semi-circular mouldings at the base above a slender silver ferrule, faceted grip and rounded pommel, in its red velvet-covered wooden scabbard bound with silver, with silver locket and chape, the latter with delicate scrolling terminal and the former with an openwork design involving a lotus leaf beneath a band of roping carrying a pierced faceted bead for suspension and beadwork at the mouth 22.7 cm; 9 in blade The inscriptions include, at the forte, the first four caliphates of Islam and the Companions of the Prophet, Abou Bakar, Umer, Usman, Haider (or Ali) and Allah, Muhammad and Ali, the latter three show that this was carried by a follower of the Shia school of thought. The inscriptions on the back-edge read shahir (shah-hir), Madani, Chhazar and Junaid. The style of foliage is similar to that found on firearms from Tipu Sultan~s arsenal at Seringapatam.