A magnificent and important zoomorphic gilt-copper dagger set with rubies and emeralds, India, Deccan, Bijapur or Golconda, late 16th century

A magnificent and important zoomorphic gilt-copper dagger set with rubies and emeralds, India, Deccan, Bijapur or Golconda, late 16th century

with a curved, double-edged watered steel blade, each face with two grooves and a central ridge converging towards the tip, the gilded hilt with a sloping octagonal flange decorated with large ribbed leaves narrowing to a solid grip of octagonal section chased and incised with fish-scale motifs, rising to a pommel formed of a leonine yali with a collar of flames and whorls surmounted in high relief with a prominent scroll crest inset with rubies and emeralds and ear-whorls, and eyes of yellow gem-stones (probably chrysoberyl cat's eye), the open jaws gripping the body of a simurgh whose head protrudes from one side and whose body and long tail-feathers form the knuckleguard and are set with two finials set with rubies and emeralds, the quillons formed of two heads of leonine beasts, the forte composed of an openwork design of lotus palmette and interlacing with chased ribs and lotus buds terminating in a trefoil motif

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length: 37.5cm. (14 3/4 in.)