Dagger with Tiger-Head Pommel

18th/19th century

Steel blade; hilt of quartz (?) underlaid with red resin and inset in the kundan technique, with gold leaf and polychrome enamel (minakari)

6.4 × 2.9 cm (2.5 × 1.1 in)

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Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

This dagger has a plain, double-edged steel blade and an exquisitely decorated hilt. The cross guard is inlaid with quartz gemstones and displays the heads of two blue, tusked elephants. A cerise-colored enameled handle separates the cross guard from the golden tiger’s head pommel, which is adorned with additional jewels arranged in floral and foliate patterns. The process for creating this haft, known as kundan , entails using soft gold for setting and polychrome enameling. Richly embellished daggers like this one would have been worn tucked into the waist sash of a prominent individual.

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