50 Million Dollar Story on a Dagger Hilt: The Topkapi Dagger
The Topkapi dagger is the story of strategy and state language told in gold and emerald.
Topkapı Palace, which is a masterpiece of magnificent columns and a perfect architectural masterpiece that has witnessed 400 years of the 600-year history of the Ottoman Empire, continues its last hundred years as a museum after the magnificent life of the palace. Topkapı, which contains the most powerful works of world art history, has a magnificent gift made of the world's largest emeralds.
The Topkapı Dagger, also known as the "Dagger with 4 Emeralds", consists of 4 large emeralds, each of which is like the eye of a camel. Three of these emeralds have survived to the present day. These emeralds are surrounded by diamonds. A London watch is placed at the top of the dagger. The clock cover and both sides of the hilt are also decorated with diamonds. Another side is inlaid with mother-of-pearl and coloured enamel. The scabbard of the dagger is set with diamonds on gold and has a large emerald at the end. Emeralds, diamonds and mother-of-pearl transform this dagger into a magical artefact; it is also an indication that the craftsmanship and aesthetics of the Ottoman artisans of the period were far ahead of their time. The story of the dagger is rumoured as follows. Mahmut I, the Ottoman sultan of the period, wanted to send a gift to Nadir Shah, the ruler of Iran. Mahmut I had a dagger decorated with rubies, the largest of which weighed 3260 grams, made to show the splendour of his state and the importance he attached to the shah. This dagger embarks on a long and arduous journey. When the Ottoman delegation was approaching Iran, Nadir Shah was assassinated by his commanders in the internal revolt that broke out in Iran and this valuable dagger found its way to the palace.
The Topkapı Dagger, one of the most precious artefacts of Topkapı Palace, which became a museum with the Republic, is estimated to be worth over 50 million dollars today. When you visit Topkapı Palace Museum, where you can find thousands of artefacts carrying the energy of important stories of history in its thousands of years of history, do not forget to visit the Topkapı Dagger, where luxury meets elegance.