An Ottoman walrus ivory-hilted gold-damascened steel sword (yataghan) by Usta Ahmed
Turkey, dated AH 1218/ AD 1803-4
the single-edged steel blade of slightly curved form, engraved and decorated in gold silver overlay to both sides with cartouches containing inscriptions surrounded by geometric designs, the forte with silver-gilt panels of granular and floral decoration, the walrus-ivory grips of typical form with prominent ears forming the pommel, the wood scabbard clad in red velvet and silver decorated in repoussé with floral designs
77 cm. long
Footnotes:
Provenance
Private UK collection.

Inscriptions: to one cartouche, an Arabic phrase al-khatt baqi wa al-'umr fani wa al-'abd 'asi wa al-rabb 'afi, 'Writing is enduring, life is transitory, the servant (of God) is rebellious and the Lord is forgiving'; to another cartouche, a Turkish couplet, ilahi senden dilerim tebarek biçak sahibine olsun mübarek, 'O God, may you bless [us], from you I wish that the knife should be blessed for its owner'; a third cartouche with a Turkish/Arabic couplet, bu biçagin shiddetinden ola düshman tar-u mar la fata illa 'ali la sayfa illa dhu'l-faqar, 'From the strength of this knife may the enemy be scattered, There is no hero but 'Ali, no sword but Dhu'l-Faqar'; in the roundel to the left of the cartouche, the names of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and their dog; in the roundel to the right of the cartouche, an Arabic phrase and the name of the owner, tawakkuli 'ala khaliqi 'abduhu sa'id, 'My trust is in my Creator. His (i.e. God's) servant Sa'id'; to a further cartouche, a Turkish couplet, bashi taci olmadansa cahilin hakpayi yegdur kamilin, 'Since he cannot be his crown, It is better that the ignorant one be the dust at the feet of the Perfect (i.e. Muhammad)'; A date, the maker's signature and the owner's name within a tughra design, sene 1218 'amel-i usta ahmed sahib ... sa'id agha, 'Year 1218 (1803-4). Work of Usta Ahmed. The owner ... Sa'id Agha.'
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y
Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13.