Auction details
5:00 PM PT - Mar 17th, 2012
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The work of a master smith, the fine, straight, single-edged blade with raised back edge forged of actively-grained black and silver wootz. Inlaid at the forte in intertwining gold vines, en suite with the elaborate gold inlay of the bolsters and tang. The grip formed of a single section of dark horn entirely carved in characteristic Georgian motifs, including flowering vines, eagles, and a lion on the pommel. In its velvet-covered wooden scabbard with large silver mounts, finely embossed and chased with birds amongst foliage, and heavy gilding to the obverse. The suspension band on the reverse of the locket struck with a Baku hallmark. Second-third quarter of the 19th century. Wear to gilding on both mounts, damage to reverse of chape, velvet worn. For a blade of quite similar form, forged of bulat, or wootz, and embellished in gold, made by Master Osip Popov, see Y. Miller, Caucasian Arms from the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Copenhagen: Naestved, 2000, p153. The motifs found on the grip are endemic to the region; this is well-attested by a number of the blades found on fine kindjals preserved in the Tsarskoye Selo Arsenal Collection (see L. Bardovskaya et al, Tsarskoselskii Arsenal, St. Petersburg: Baltika, 1999, p.64-68.) That it is the weapon’s grip which is thus embellished, in horn rather than steel, may well make this example unique. The presence of a silver mark from Baku adds to the known range of cities in which Tbilisi-trained Georgian and Armenian masters plied their craft. Overall length 38.5 cm. Condition II
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10915491
