Indian daggers

There are 37 Indian daggers with jade hilts in the Royal Collection. These were given as gifts to Edward VII (1841–1910), when Prince of Wales, during his four-month tour of the Indian subcontinent in 1875. Arms and armour formed the largest category of gifts received by the Prince and many of these were later displayed in the Prince's 'Indian Room' at Marlborough House.

Jade daggers were popular at the Mughal court during the reign of Alamgir (r. 1658–1707) after trade routes into modern-day Hotan in China became accessible to the Mughal court. Jade has been traded in Hotan since 5000 BC. The lapidaries (stone cutters who worked precious stones) working for the Mughal court were accustomed to working with rock crystal and were able to transfer their skills to working jade, producing vessels, dagger handles and jewellery inlaid with precious metals and gemstones.