Highlands Dagger: the Scottish Ceremonial Dagger becomes a Jewel
Ellis Mhairi Cameron, with blacksmith Simone Maillet, redesigns the famous Scottish Sgian Dubh, a piece now in the new collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum
Thursday, 04 December 2025, by VO+ Magazine
Ellis Mhairi Cameron, one of the most interesting names in British design, brings the Sgian Dubh - the Scottish ceremonial dagger - out of tradition and into the contemporary world. Highlands Dagger, created in collaboration with master French knifemaker and bladesmith Simone Maillet, comprises five pieces, each the result of over twenty hours of work, in 14-karat gold and antique diamonds. One of these became the first Sgian Dubh ever acquired by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, to which Cameron also donated her original sketchbook: a document that recounts the entire creative process, from the first drawings to the finished piece. Her vision stems from her deep connection to the land where she grew up: seascapes, ancient lands, and the topophilia that runs through all her work.