Auction details
5:00 PM PT - Mar 17th, 2012
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The graceful elephant grips developing into a pommel carved as a fully-modeled lion’s head with teeth bared. The guard with long quillons and faceted bud terminals, forged of intricately-patterned black and silver wootz and elaborately inlaid in gold with flowering-vine borders. The blade belongs to a rare group which originates with late- 15th century Mamluk smiths: these bear a chiseled panel at the forte which incorporates what Bashir Mohamed describes as “a roundel and a sequence of inscribed cartouches associated with club-shaped depressions.” Four cartouches appear at the right forte, inscribed: ALLAH! MUHAMMAD!,O ‘ALI! and THERE IS NO HERO LIKE ‘ALI AND NO SWORD LIKE DHUL-FAQAR! The lowermost remains undeciphered but appears to contain a name. In addition, the elaborately-chiseled elements show distinct Indian influence in the lotus-like branches which spring from the panel at the cutting edge. Of shamshir type, the blade is forged of high quality black and silver wootz damascus steel, in a tightly-undulating Ladder Pattern which retains its original finish. In its fabric-covered wooden scabbard with silver braid binding. Beginning of the 17th century.Minor period repair to pommel , wear to guard, scabbard quite worn. For similar examples and further discussion of these rare blades, see B. Mohamed, The Arts of the Muslim Knight, Milan: Skira, 2008, p. 59. Overall length 92.3 cm. Condition III
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10915458
