Khanjar (dagger),
18th century
Indian
Mughal Empire, 1526–1858
2023-231
Khanjar are short blades with decorated hilts that were used by men for ceremonies throughout the Islamic world and worn tucked into belts with the hilt displayed. These two Indian khanjar feature jade hilts—one decorated with jewels and the other carved—and blades made with watered steel, a technique developed by Indian metalsmiths that creates a wavy, marbled pattern on the metal’s surface.
Information
Title
Khanjar (dagger)
Dates
18th century
Medium
Carved jade hilt with gold; watered-steel blade, carved with gilt patterns
Dimensions
length: 36 cm (14 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Sanjay Kapoor in loving memory of his father Vineet and grandmother Urmil Kapoor
Object Number
2023-231
Place Made
Asia, India
Unidentified English collector, London, 1950s–1960s; [Sotheby’s, London, 31 March 2021, lot 94]; Collection of Sanjay Kapoor, [Kapoor Galleries], 2021–2023; gift to the Princeton University Art Museum by Sanjay Kapoor, 2023.
