Dagger - Kard Straight shaped steel blade with... Lot 426

Dagger - Kard Straight shaped steel blade with one cutting edge Zoomorphic jade handle of tiger's head with ruby cabochon eyes that confer it a more realistic impression Mughal India, 17th century This dagger type was normally used, in the typical 17th century Mughal attire, on the left side of the belt. The fact that the handle depicts a zoomorphic design – particularly a tiger, an Imperial symbol – and that it is carved in jade, grants particular relevance to this piece, most certainly destined to an important courtier close to the Emperor. Beyond their warlike dimension, weapons in the orient were always associated to traditions and customs of religious character. The well-succeeded expansion of Islam, started in the mid 6th century throughout Asia, had an important impact on the development of various oriental communities. There was a fusion of different influences and artistic styles, reflected in all areas, including in weaponry, which acquired specific shapes and characteristics. In Islamic culture, weapons must be analysed under a religious aspect, connected to the birth of Islam and the life of the Prophet himself, whose teachings shaped society and its warrior attitude. The warlike objects are associated to the concept of Jihad (Holy War) defended by the Prophet, and to the Quran, both facts ending up influencing their production. In the case of the Indian subcontinent weapons are not simply war instruments or religious symbols, but are also a conspicuous sign of wealth and social status. Indian society is closely connected to Hinduism, with its complex caste system, in which all social hierarchy is structured, all these facts becoming extremely important for the study of weaponry. Each caste is associated to certain tasks or missions, the Kshatriya – the warrior elite - being one of the most important. Weapons are an attribute of a major pillar of Indian society functioning as symbols of social standin