Right and left halves of a dagger hilt, each with three lateral drill holes, greyish green nephrite jade, carved flowers in low relief, inset stones, India

The left and right halves of a sword hilt for securing either side of the sword's tang. Fashioned in greyish green nephrite jade and lightly polished. The top edges are very gently curved downwards, with the bottom edges having a more pronounced downward curve and with the ends protruding downwards. Carved in low relief on the outer face of each, there is a row of three flowers (stylised poppies) with each having a leaf to either side and there is a lateral hole drilled through the centre of each flower to facilitate fixing onto the blade's tang. The end of each also has part of a poppy flower and leaves carved in low relief and each is set with an unidentified, colourless to very pale pink cabochon in a reflective (silver) closed-back gilt setting that was once coloured but which has subsequently deteriorated and faded.

This pair of dagger hilt halves was acquired by William Tayler during his time in India (1829-1867). He subsequently sold it to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1874 for the sum of £4-0-0.

William Tayler was educated in England at Charterhouse and also spent a term at Christ Church, Oxford. He entered service with the East India Company on 30th April 1829, arriving in India in October of the same year. He held various posts in Bengal and was appointed Commissioner of Patna in 1855. During his service, he was able to acquire many objects, including hardstones, relating to the customs and religions of India as well as objects from other parts of South Asia.
He was criticised for his handling of the uprisings in Northern India and was moved to a lesser post before being suspended, ultimately resigning on 29th March 1859. He then practised as an advocate in the law courts of Bengal before returning to England in 1867.
He wrote a book about his experiences, entitled Thirty-eight Years in India, in which he states that "After my return to England, circumstances induced me, though with great reluctance, to part with the collection which is now in the South Kensington Museum".

These grip shells for a dagger hilt were made within the Mughal empire, probably in the 18th century. The nephrite jade would have enhanced the appearance of the dagger, while providing weight to the hilt that would have helped to counter-balance the steel blade. Although nephrite is a hard and durable material, one major disadvantage is that it could be liable to damage from sharp impacts, possibly sufficient to render the dagger unusable without a replacement hilt.

630-1874