A rare Timurid ivory dagger or knife’s handle. Iran or Central Asia. Circa 14th-15th century.
This early piece is designed from a single piece of ivory with a sculpted animal’s head, that of a stylized abstracted dragon. The shape of the carvings on the head of the beast, particularly the eyes, indicates that these were inset with gemstones. The rest of the ivory body is inlaid with gold wire volute spirals of the golden horn pattern with small birds strewn within them.