Guarded Dagger (Katar)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Guarded Dagger (Katar) has a metal blade that appears silver with a slight gray patina. The blade tapers from a wide base at the hilt to a pointed tip. The hilt consists of two flat metal pieces on either side with ornate etchings and shapes. At the base of the blade where it meets the hilt are ornate etchings. On top of the hilt are three protrusions. The middle protrusion is spherical at its very tip with curved metal on either side that extends down the sides. The other two protrusions are thin and end in small spheres. The background is light gray.