Daily grace

Dagger with zoomorphic handle

Second half 16th century, Deccan, India

gilded bronze hilt, set with rubies

The hilt of this dagger fuses the sculptural tradition of South India with the Islamic arabesque, an ornamental tradition that presents intricate renderings of foliage. In the grip, once set with rubies, a lion clutches an elephant in one paw and a phoenix and dragon in the other. Two peacocks form the dagger’s guard. The dagger was likely the possession of Sultan ‘Ali I, ruler of Bijapur, India, from 1558 to 1579—in a period portrait, he wears almost an identical blade.