Dagger - KardStraight shaped steel blade with one cutting edgeZoomorphic jade handle of tiger's head with ruby cabochon eyes that confer it a more realistic impressionMughal India, 17th centuryThis dagger type was normally used, in the typical 17th century Mughal attire, on the left side of the belt. The fact that the handle depicts a zoomorphic design – particularly a tiger, an Imperial symbol – and that it is carved in jade, grants particular relevance to this piece, most certainly destined to an important courtier close to the Emperor.Beyond their warlike dimension, weapons in the orient were always associated to traditions and customs of religious character.The well-succeeded expansion of Islam, started in the mid 6th century throughout Asia, had an important impact on the development of various oriental communities. There was a fusion of different influences and artistic styles, reflected in all areas, including in weaponry, which acquired specific shapes and characteristics.In Islamic culture, weapons must be analysed under a religious aspect, connected to the birth of Islam and the life of the Prophet himself, whose teachings shaped society and its warrior attitude.The warlike objects are associated to the concept of Jihad (Holy War) defended by the Prophet, and to the Quran, both facts ending up influencing their production. In the case of the Indian subcontinent weapons are not simply war instruments or religious symbols, but are also a conspicuous sign of wealth and social status.Indian society is closely connected to Hinduism, with its complex caste system, in which all social hierarchy is structured, all these facts becoming extremely important for the study of weaponry. Each caste is associated to certain tasks or missions, the Kshatriya – the warrior elite - being one of the most important. Weapons are an attribute of a major pillar of Indian society functioning as symbols of social standing. Beyond their status, they translate the way and the dharma that each individual served, in order to occupy its place in society. It is thus understandable that weapons are conceived and decorated with religious motifs, full of mysticism.It was during the Mughal Empire’s Islamic domination, that controlled much of the Indian Territory between the 16th and 19th centuries, that weaponry reached its highest splendour. The taste for refined weapons and precious objects attained, during that period, its highest level. The gunsmith’s work became associated to that of the goldsmith, enameller, jeweller and precious stone cutter, thus creating the most beautiful and luxurious examples.Albeit Muslim, the Mughal rulers were strongly influenced by neighbouring cultures, namely Hindu and Persian. As such, despite most of these items being produced in the Mughal Karkkhanahs (workshops), numerous examples, and often the most desirable, originated from areas such as Hindustan and Iran. Owing to the fascination for the neighbouring artisans work, many foreign artists ended up working at the core of the Mughal court, starting a production that would follow and assimilate very diverse styles.Most of the examples known today are of such high level of sophistication that become almost jewel like, having its original defence function a secondary or symbolic role, in spite of the maintenance of their lethal functionality.Lenght: 24,5 cm