Estimate

20.000 - 30.000

Session 2

25 June 2020

Hammer Price

Description

Walrus ivory handle with 46 rubies mounted in gold
Damascene steel blade
India, 17th century

33 cm

Category

Weapons

Additional Information

Well before the arrival of the Portuguese, Indian courts were avid consumers of jewellery and bejewelled objects produced by local craftsmen in exotic and precious materials. Upon their arrival to the Indian subcontinent, the Mughal emperors and their courtiers will maintain this well-established market, fed by the abundance of diamonds from Golconda, rubies and sapphires from Kashmir and beyond and by the trade in sapphires from Ceylon and emeralds from as far afield as South America.
Semi-precious stones, such as jade in a variety of colours, and rock crystal, were also crafted and ornamented in gold and precious gems by Indian artisans. The existence of these production centres for luxury goods and the possibility of resorting to techniques and labour from other regions, were essential facts for the development of what would later become known as “Goan Jewellery”.
From 1506 onwards, the Portuguese presence in Ceylon will reinforce the Island’s role as an important trading outpost. Geographically close to the Indian subcontinent, it served as a valuable strategic base for Portuguese ships and also as a major commercial hub for its desirable raw materials, such as spices, exotic timbers and gemstones. Prior to this direct trade route, Sinhalese luxury goods had arrived in Europe in modest quantities, after long overland journeys.
By the mid 16th century, Sinhalese rulers were sending magnificent gifts to the Portuguese crown, which were often forwarded as offerings by Queen Catherine of Austria (1507-1578), consort to John III of Portugal, to her relatives in other kingdoms and princely states. The sudden European desire for these rare objects intensified their production in the East, eventually becoming an important part of trading and contributing to Goa’s emergence as a production centre towards the end of the 16th century.
The deterioration of relations between the Portuguese and the local Sinhalese kingdoms, worsened by the arrival of the Dutch in the 1640s, would eventually consolidate Goa’s position as an autonomous production centre for luxury goods. Local artisans will henceforth, and throughout the whole of the 17th century, assume the production that was previously based in Ceylon, often decorating and mounting a variety of objects in silver or gold filigree.
The simple and contained, yet precious, decoration of this dagger’s handle, confers it a subtle dignity, placing it as an exceptional example of 17th century Indian art. Most likely produced for an elite patron within the Mughal court, it has a thin damascened steel blade and a walrus ivory handle decorated in gold set with rubies.
Marine ivory from walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) tusks was imported to India via the Siberian trade routes. Considered harder and of better quality than its elephant counterpart it was ideal for more delicate finishing. Before carving it would be immersed in a masala - a compound of two or more herbs - and left to rest for at least 50 years.
Set into the walrus ivory, the dagger’s handle decoration is composed of two, six petal ruby rosettes mounted in gold, in a variation of the Indian kundan technique, usually used in carved jade or rock crystal objects.
The use of these techniques enables a rather specific chronological and geographical placing of this precious dagger.

Literature:
PAUL, E., Jaiwant, Arms and Armour. Traditional Weapons of India, Lustre Press, Roli Books, 2006.
Rituais de Poder. Armas Orientais. Coleção de Jorge Caravana, Caleidoscópio, Edição e Artes Gráficas, Portugal, 2010. — Splendeur des Armes Orientales, ACTE – EXPO, Paris, 1988.