{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O450750"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O450750/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HW3410/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HW3410/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HW3410","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HW3412","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O450750/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O450750","accessionNumber":"1683&A-1882","objectType":"Dagger hilt","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Decorative hilts to swords and daggers have been made for the wealthy and powerful for hundreds of years. In India especially, with its wealth of attractive hardstones, the weapons would have benefited from the durability of the raw material too. This handle has been fashioned from Afghan material which is the prime source of the finest quality lapis lazuli.","physicalDescription":"Matched left-hand and right-hand halves of a sword or dagger hilt, fashioned in lapis lazuli with each half having one broad, square end with an external recess and with the other end being curved and scrolled. Both halves have been broken and repaired, at least once.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lapis lazuli","id":"AAT11122"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lapis lazuli, carved and polished using abrasives.","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"Gemstones","id":"THES270329"},{"text":"Hardstone","id":"THES270137"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2015HW3410","2015HW3412"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"012","id":"THES374498"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"012","id":"THES374498"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dagger hilt","id":""}],[{"text":"Sword hilt","id":"x47769"}],[{"text":"Dagger hilt","id":""}],[{"text":"Sword hilt","id":"x47769"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"India","id":"x29790"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Wells Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"127.0","unit":"mm","qualifier":"+/- 0.5","date":{"text":"22/07/2015","earliest":"2015-07-22","latest":"2015-07-22"},"part":"1683-1882","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"30.1 & 49.8","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/07/2015","earliest":"2015-07-22","latest":"2015-07-22"},"part":"1683-1882","note":"Width at the square and the scrolled ends respectively"},{"dimension":"Thickness","value":"9.1 & 11.2","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/07/2015","earliest":"2015-07-22","latest":"2015-07-22"},"part":"1683-1882","note":"Thickness at the square and the scrolled ends respectively"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"127.5","unit":"mm","qualifier":"+/- 0.5","date":{"text":"22/07/2015","earliest":"2015-07-22","latest":"2015-07-22"},"part":"1683A-1882","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"30.8 & 48.7","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/07/2015","earliest":"2015-07-22","latest":"2015-07-22"},"part":"1683A-1882","note":"Width at the square and the scrolled ends respectively"},{"dimension":"Thickness","value":"8.2 & 11.1","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/07/2015","earliest":"2015-07-22","latest":"2015-07-22"},"part":"1683A-1882","note":"Thickness at the square and the scrolled ends respectively"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"These sword or dagger hilt halves were fashioned in India and were acquired by Arthur Wells who was a Nottingham solicitor and Clerk of the Peace. He was a keen traveller and was made a Fellow of the Geographical Society. He is considered to be the first private British collector of Chinese jade and his collection of jade and other hardstone objects from South Asia was on exhibition at the South Kensington Museum at the time of his death in 1882. This collection was left to the museum in his will - the Wells Bequest.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Matched halves of a dagger hilt, lapis lazuli, broken and repaired, India","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1683-1882","1683A-1882"],"accessionNumberNum":"1683","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1882,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Dagger hilt [1]","Dagger hilt [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}