Dagger and scabbard

In 1900, this dagger was displayed at Windsor Castle in what was called the ‘museum’ – an exhibition of costume, weapons and other ‘curiosities’ from around the world. The cases were housed at the bottom of the Grand Staircase and what is now the China Museum. A short catalogue, published in 1900, indicates that the display included objects ranging from Zulu spears (assegai) to Persian saddlecloths and Burmese musical instruments. Some were gifts; others had been taken from the field of battle. In 1903, King Edward VII had the displays dismantled, and some of the contents were sent to museums in London.