South Asia, Sri Lanka, Sinhalese culture, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A beautiful but lethal looking steel blade dagger known as a piha keatta, the handle covered with ancient elephant ivory and a chased silver pommel cap with brass rivets. Throughout are intricate scrolling foliate Sinhalese style motifs - these were luxurious knives that were fit for Maharajas to bestow and receive as gifts as signs of wealth and prestige. Size: 10.75" L x 1.5" W (27.3 cm x 3.8 cm); blade only: 6.75" L x 1.5" W (17.1 cm x 3.8 cm); silver quality: 63%

This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece is over 100 years old.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 2000 to 2010; ex-private collection of Ami Brown, Israel

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#179884

Small chip / loss to silver pommel, tear, and indentations. Patina and dark toning to steel, areas of green oxidation to brass. Iron nail rivet on ivory has dark oxidation. Stable pressure fissure / separation between the ivory and steel tang, but intact and tightly secure. Yellow patina to ivory. Overall great condition.