Dagger with double-edged watered steel blade and white nephrite jade pommel in the form of a horse’s head. India, mid 17th c. Loaned to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, from the Al-Sahah Collection, Kuwait [1305×3850] [OC]

[display description](https://i.ibb.co/qF0Y4b49/20250118-151858-ed.jpg)

[India

Horse-Head Dagger, mid-17th century

Carved from nephrite jade

LNS 70 HS

This dagger illustrates the varied tastes of the Mughal court, from treasured gem-set accoutrements to pure forms. The Mughals’ predilection for nephrite jade was probably passed down from their Central Asian ancestors, for whom jade was considered apotropaic and a means to assure victory in combat. This dagger is carved from the highest quality white nephrite jade and features a pommel in the form of a beautifully sculpted Arabian horse’s head. The cross-guard block is carved with an iris blossom and buds. The watered-steel blade is double-edged, gently dropping before it recurves toward the tip.

Mughal courtiers display bejeweled weapons in Miniature Painting of Agra Diwan-i am, March 8, 1628, attributed to Ramdas, c. 1640, Padshabnama, folio 51A, Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2012]

[another picture](https://web.archive.org/web/20030525014255/https://www.clevelandart.org/exhibcef/mughal/illusmag/dagger.jpg)