A rarely-encountered example of Safavid era workmanship, the green-stained elephant grips typically indicate that the owner has made the Haj or Pilgrimage to Mecca, carved with raised central panels terminating in Timurid motifs. The finely-wrought steel pommel, guard and tangband superbly chiseled with Nastaliq verse praising Allah, Muhammad and Ali, together Quranic text. The robust blade of moderate curvature, wrought of superb, actively-grained Persian black wootz, and chiseled with a pair of polygonal cartouches, the upper inscribed, WORK OF ASSAD ALLAH ISFAHANI, the lower inscribed, OWNER ZULFAQAR. In its leather-covered wooden scabbard with steel suspension bands and chape inlaid with gold vinework, the suspension bands with gold medallions borders at the center. 17th-18th century. Minor wear to blade along the spine, leather with minor losses, mounts with isolated areas of rust. Overall length 89.7cm/ 35.31". Condition III