Horse-shaped Dagger Hilt

This small dagger hilt contains the whole aesthetic of the Baburid court of India. It was carved from deep green nephrite at the turn of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and ends in the head of a horse. For the descendants of the Timurids, the image of the horse was not only a sign of martial culture, but also a reminder of the steppe origins of Babur’s dynasty.
The master rendered the lowered neck, strands of the mane, alert ears, eyes, and slightly open mouth. The smooth polish emphasizes the density of the stone, while at the base a shaped socket shows where the tang of the steel blade was inserted. In Baburids workshops, stonecutters transferred their skills in working rock crystal to nephrite, creating almost sculptural miniatures for the military elite. Such hilts joined practical ergonomics with court symbolism: the dagger was worn in the sash at durbars, ceremonies, and diplomatic receptions. The lost eye inlays and traces of mounting remind us that this object was once part of a luxury weapon, where nephrite, metal, and precious stones formed a single language of power.