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1 of 253523 objects
Punch dagger and scabbard 1800-75
Steel, gold, diamonds, wood, velvet | 64.0 x 9.0 x 11.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 11487
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A punch dagger or katar with a two edged steel blade chiselled with ten grooves on each side. The gilded steel transverse grip of two bars and further decorated with riveted gold panels incised with floral decoration and set with brilliant-cut diamonds. The steel knuckleguard terminated with a lion's head with ruby eyes and in the centre of the knuckleguard is the Prince of Wales crest in gold set with diamonds. The blue velvet covered wooden scabbard embellished with gold mounts chased with roses, thistles and shamrocks surmounted by diamonds under which appears the motto of the Order of the Star of India 'Heaven's Light our Guide'. The Maharaja had been made a Knight Commander of the Star of India in 1864.
Provenance
The chased decoration on the gold mounts, the lion's head and the brilliant-cut diamonds strongly suggests that many of the embellishments of this katar were made by a European metalworker and gem cutter. Presented to King Edward VII, when Prince of Wales, during his tour of India in 1875-76 by Vijayarama III Gajapati Raju Pusapati, Maharaja of Vizianagaram.
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Medium and techniques
Steel, gold, diamonds, wood, velvet
Measurements
64.0 x 9.0 x 11.0 cm (whole object)
Category
Object type(s)
Alternative title(s)
Jamdhar Katari and scabbard
