OTTOMAN TURKEY, THE BLADE POSSIBLY MID-16TH CENTURY, THE SHEATH SILVER GILT MOUNTS STRUCK WITH THE TUGHRA OF SULTAN MUSTAFA II (R. 1695-1703)

Details

A HORN HILTED GOLD DAMASCENED WATERED STEEL SWORD
OTTOMAN TURKEY, THE BLADE POSSIBLY MID-16TH CENTURY, THE SHEATH SILVER GILT MOUNTS STRUCK WITH THE TUGHRA OF SULTAN MUSTAFA II (R. 1695-1703)
The single-edged curved blade damascened with a calligraphic scalloped medallion, cusped cartouches above and below, a longer inscription in naskh verging on thuluth script against a scrolling floral background, the quillon block engraved with a swirling floral quatrefoil, the pierced pommel fitted with a gilt tassel, with gilt silver mounted black leather sheath, the upper and lower silver gilt sheath mounts struck with a tughra of Sultan Mustafa II (r. 1695-1703), old collection or inventory numbers on label and in red paint on sheath
38 ½in. (97.8cm.)

Engraved

Qur'an LXI, sura al-saff, aya13 and 14
Lobed cartouche : bismillah

Brought to you by

Louise Broadhurst

lbroadhurst@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2603

Lot Essay

The blade of our shamshir presents the same curvature seen in earlier blades such as that of a sword dated AH 1122/1710-11 AD, (sold Christie's, London, 17 December 2015, lot 284) and of another in the Furusiyya Foundation attributed to the second half of the 16th century (Mohammed, 2007, ill. 26, p.62). Our sheath mounts are engraved with stylised tri-furcated tulips and near flat water-lily like flowers. Similar stylised tulips are seen on a dagger's sheath in the same collection dated AH 1093/1682 AD (ibid, ill.154, p. 165) and on a sabre sheath mount exhibited at the Federal Collection Dresden (Schulkelt, 2010, cat.154, p.249) attributed circa 1700-1714. The water-lily like pattern occurs on the hilt of a sword attributed to the late 17th century (ibid. 2010, ill. 202, p. 177).

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