Dagger (Jambiya) with Sheath
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Steel, wood, silver, brass
Dimensions
H. with sheath 23 1/2 in. (59.7 cm); H. without sheath 23 1/4 in. (59.1 cm); H. of blade 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm); W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 5.7 oz. (615.2 g); Wt. of sheath 1 lb. 9.4 oz. (720.1 g)
Classification
Daggers
Culture
South Moroccan
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
Accession Number
36.25.775a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Jambiya dagger with its sheath hails from South Morocco, crafted between the 18th and 19th centuries. Measuring 23½ inches tall with the sheath, it features a sharp steel blade (13¾ inches long) elegantly curved in the traditional jambiya style, with a hilt and sheath adorned in wood, silver, and brass. Weighing just over 2 pounds together, its balanced design speaks to the skilled metalworking of Moroccan artisans, who combined functionality with ornamental flair using techniques like engraving and inlaying precious metals. In South Moroccan culture, the jambiya was more than ...