Large jade khanjar
Full Description:
A handsome Mughal style khanjar (dagger) of unusually large proportions. The jade grip is carved in a pistol-grip shape in a creamy white colour with a hint of green. The steel blade is of heavy section and cut with two fullers separated by a median ridge. The two fullers display jawhar or a wootz steel pattern and the edges are polished bright. An inscription clearly chased into the blade in Devanagari script reads:
Ra. Ki. Pho. 401
The important exhibition catalogue Splendeur des Armes Orientales, published in 19882, includes a tulwar and katar garniture with the same abbreviation and the number 18 (although the marking is acid etched, not chased like ours3). The garniture is said to have formerly been in the armoury of the Maharaja of Kishangarh. The author notes that the KI probably stands for Kishangarh.
The original wooden scabbard accompanies the dagger and is covered in a luscious red silk velvet. There is also a tassel attached that perhaps once would have carried pearls or other precious stones for adornment.
Provenance
UK art market
Purportedly belonged to Sri Pratap Singh (Maharaja Pratap Singh (b. 1763 – d. 1798) ruled Kishangarh state from 1788 till his death).
References
My thanks to Kalama Lucas for the reading of the inscription.
Ricketts & Missillier, Splendeur des Armes Orientales, 1988, pp.116, cat.no.201.
In private communication with Jonathan Barrett he observes that objects of the finest quality seem to have been engraved (with the Kishangarh marking) and less valuable items were etched.