Zafar Takieh Gupti

An 18th century object from India known as a Zafar Takieh (see Stones glossary P.683).  Literally translated to Throne of Victory, said to have been used as 'darbar' (court) object.  This example is all-steel with an asymmetrical faceted support that forms the pommel and terminates in a makara head with a gaping mouth, the support unscrews from the tubular body in a clockwise direction to reveal a long square section stiletto blade.  A similar example is in the Nasser D.Khalili collection of Islamic Art, and illustrated in the book 'The Arts of War' by David Alexander, 1992, Page 198, No.133.