Dagger with the handle in the shape of a lion's head

Object Details

• Description

  The dagger is long and slender, with a handle that ends in the shape of a lion's head. Gold inlay decoration was used to decorate the handle and the back of the blade. A fine water pattern covers the sides of the blade.

• Previous custodian or owner

  John Lawrence Fine Arts

• Provenance

  To 1998

  John Lawrence Fine Arts, London, acquired from an unidentified European vendor, to 1998 [1]

  From 1998

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from John Lawrence Fine Arts in 1998

  Notes:

  [1] John Lawrence Fine Arts acquired the object from a European vendor; the object had arrived in England sometime in the early part of the 20th century (according to Curatorial Note 2, Massumeh Farhad, February 4, 1998, in the object record.

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Weapon and Armament

• On View

  Freer Gallery 01: Body Image: Arts of the Indian Subcontinent

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1650s

• Name

  John Lawrence Fine Arts

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Cats, Art, Animals, Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858)

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Weapons, Armor (protective wear)

• On View

  Yes