What kind of dagger?
 

What kind of dagger you see?
Muhammad Ali Wallajah (r.1749-1795), the Nawab of Arcot and the Carnatic.
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1...-kettle-tilly/

I don't see any dagger! I only see a hilt.
:shrug:

However, if I were to guess, I would assume it is the hilt of a "Mughal" dagger.

Hello,

I checked the link and the dagger is indeed pretty unusual to my eyes. Looks like a Tulwar hilt with a dagger blade.

Maybe Jens Nordlunde as a real and passionate expert of Indian arms is able to add something sensible.


Roland

No I dont think it is a tulwar hilt, but I cant tell you what it is, befoore having seen the blade as well.

a kukri maybe?

In South India? :confused:

Why not?

Trade was known to South India as well. It's not they were an insulated island.

However, as long as we don't have any clue about the shape of the blade, I believe this whole discussion is pointless. :cool:

Somehow I am recalling a scene from an old-forgotten book about engagement party (?) in one of the Islamic countries: the potential bride, wrapped from head to toe in black, cautiously extends her pinkie outside... and the boy madly falls in love !!!!! And I am not talking about the potential effect of a coquettish glance:-) The truth is unfortunately revealed after the wedding.....


Moreover, this painting was obviously made by a European artist. The veracity of his rendition is questionable as we have discussed in earlier topics.
My guess he had a tulwar in his studio and reworked the image into something suitable ( in his opinion) for a dagger.
Artistic license is not usually frowned upon:-)))