Description

The curved style of the dagger is typically South Asian and the tip is greatly strengthened, allowing it to be used for penetrating the chain mail used in this time. Handles of daggers were often carved like sculpture from precious materials such as ivory, jade, and crystal, and sometimes encrusted with jewels. This simple, elegant handle lacks such elaboration and the bone is slightly more utilitarian. The blade is made of wootz steel, as indicated by the swirling pattern, a crucible steel made of iron and processed in a way to make it particularly hard. This effect was achieved by heating the metal to very high temporatures and then letting it slowly cool, resulting in a crystalline effect that revealed these patterns, thus making the weapons prized for their beauty. But such blades were also reputed to be tough, resistant to shattering and capable of being honed to a sharp, resilient edge. Wootz steel originated in South India in the 6th century and but was later produced abroad and used in swords from Damascus (hence wootz steel also came to be called damascus steel, also sometimes called watered steel because of the pattern) that also became known for their durability. From the 17th century onwards, this superior steel came to the notice of European explorers who studied for its use of high carbon alloys, previously unknown to Europe. Research into wootz steel played an important role in the development of British, French and Russian metallurgy. It was collected by the First Lord Kitchener (Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1850-1916), a senior British Army officer who served in the Sudan, Egypt, and South Africa. He served as the Commander-in-Chief (1902-1909) of the Indian Army. It was part of a large collection of Indian and Middle Eastern arms and armour that was bequeathed to the ROM in 1948 from a descendant who had settled in Canada. Kitchener, Ontario was named after Lord Kitchener, serving then as Secretary of War during WWI, drowned in 1916 when his ship hit a German sea mine.