Page 195 - 2018 Hong Kong Important Chieese Art

This Kandshar reflects the technical excellence and florid
aesthetic of the Mughal empire of the 18th century that found
delight with the Qianlong Emperor. The vibrant ornamentation
adorning the jade hilt, known as kundan (pure gold), is unique
to India. Using hyper-purified gold, the inlayer (zar-nishan)
refines the soft metal into strips of malleable foil which at
room temperature become adhesive. As a result, it allows the
craftsman to create elaborate designs using the ductile gold
without any need for glue or soldering.
A similarly decorated dagger of this form, along with its sheath,
is preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London,
Museum no. 3467(IS) to 3467A/(IS). Compare also a dagger
and scabbard, the jade hilt decorated with swirling floral vine
design inset with various gemstones, sold in our London
rooms, 25th April 2015, lot 26; and another, sold at Christie’s
London, 27th April 2004, lot 133.
Although jades embellished with colourful gemstones set in
gold kundan settings were reserved for high ranking individuals
in India, such exotic objects were introduced to China in the
18th century as diplomatic gifts to the Qing imperial court
and subsequently replicated in the Zaobanchu (the Palace
Workshops). See two Mughal-style jade daggers of similar
form, attributed to the Qianlong period, from the Qing court
collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete
Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum.Treasures of
Imperial Court, Hong Kong, 2004, pls 169-170.

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 193