Dagger and sheath

Object Details

• Label

  This dagger, with its intricate lines and floral motifs, was made during the reign of Karim Khan (1750-79) the first ruler of the short-lived Zand dynasty (1750-95) as is one of the few objects to survive from this period. Its Persian inscription, written in an elegant nastaliq, reads:

  In the time of the reign of the Zand emperor

  The just king, ruler, heir to Dara,

  Khan of the world, favorite of Ali,

  Master of the time, lord of the sea and land.

  Glory of the craftsmen, helper of the lowest [impoverished]

  Oh Taqi (?), that chief of artists

  Made in Shiraz a beautiful dagger

  As a crescent with pearls dropping from its blade.

  He said its date: beginning of wisdon and lofty praise.

  For the sun, the crescent [is] as a belt of pearls.

• Provenance

  By 1939

  Edward Beghian, London, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1939

  Hagop Andonian, New York, as an agent for Edward Beghian, London [2]

  From 1939

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Edward Beghian, London, through Hagop Andonian, New York [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of Freer gallery of Art “List of Objects Contemplated for Purchase by the Freer Gallery of Art,” approved by Secretary of the Smithsonian C. G. Abbot on July 17, 1939. Item no. 2 is described as “1 dagger, Persian, 18th century.” The object was purchased from H. S. Andonian, “acting for E. Beghian, London”. Edward Beghian (1876-1962) was a dealer in carpets and antiques, with a gallery first at 18 Dover Street, then 37 Berkeley Street, London, between 1924 and1939.

  [2] See note 1. Hagop Simon Andonian (H. S. Andonian) (1887-1967) was a merchant, business administrator, and executive in New York, NY. Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Andonian arrived in the United States in the early 1910s and worked as a secretary in New York, NY. He accompanied the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau Sr. to Constantinople (now Istanbul), where he served as a secretary between 1913 and 1916. Andonian returned to the U. S. in 1916 and resumed work as a secretary, then manager, in various industries. He became a U.S. citizen in 1930 and married Jeanne Beghian in 1932. By 1942, Andonian was the director of Dikran G. Kelekian’s (1867-1951) gallery, and by 1950 he was president of his own “wholesale merchant” business.

  [3] See notes 1 and 2.

  Research updated October 3, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art (September 27, 1985 to November 17, 1986)

  Bicentennial Exhibition: Near Eastern and Indian Art (December 15, 1975 to November 10, 1976)

  Near Eastern Art (June 15, 1973 to May 7, 1975)

  Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Metalwork (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)

  Special Exhibition Afghanistan (September 3, 1963 to June 5, 1964)

  Near Eastern Art (January 1, 1963 to August 18, 1967)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 6 and 7 (February 25, 1956 to April 10, 1962)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, Pottery, Metalwork, and Glass (April 12, 1955 to November 21, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Arts, 1947 (October 6, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts (May 1, 1945 to September 25, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian and Near Eastern Art (May 5, 1933 to September 24, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Edward Beghian (1876-1962)

• Origin

  Shiraz, Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Weapon and Armament

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1780s, 1790s

• Name

  Beghian, Edward

• Place

  Japan, Shiraz

• Topic

  Gold, Silver, Art, Wirework, Inlay (process), Arts of the Islamic World, Forging (metal forming), Iron, Steel, Chasing, Zand period (1750 - 1794), Filigree

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Language

  Naskh script

• Object Type

  Weapons, Armor (protective wear)