Terms and Conditions
The artist, title and date of the work must be listed anywhere the image is reproduced:
Indian
Dagger and sheath (19th century)
steel, wood, metal, silk velvet
(a-b) 31.5 × 4.5 × 2.6 cm (overall)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of John H. Connell, 1914
Photo: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
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Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Tamil Nadu, India
Inscription
incised in dagger near handle: AUSTIN / MADURVHOZARV
Accession Number
651.a-b-D1A
Department
Asian Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Physical description
Curved bladed, steel dagger with cast and chased metal handle, possibly silver. The handle design includes Krishna imagery surrounded by flowers and foliage. On one side of the handle fluting Krishna stands with a cow, beneath a naga raga figure, which has a lidded vase (a vase of plenty or a butter jar?) above it. On the other side is a similar vase, above a figure of Krishna dancing on the serpent Kaliya which is above an image of the Rock Fort (?) in Tiruchirapally, Tamil Nadu. AT the base of the handle is a figure of an elephant. The velvet covered wooden sheath has similar cast ad chased silver ornamentation at the tip and top. A hooked latch secures the dagger in the sheath.