AN OTTOMAN SWORD (KILIJ)

TURKEY, BLADE DATED AH 112[5]/1713-14 AD

Details

AN OTTOMAN SWORD (KILIJ)
TURKEY, BLADE DATED AH 112[5]/1713-14 AD
Of typical form with curving single-edged watered-steel blade with pronounced spine thickening towards point, one side of the blade with gold-inlaid naskh inscription divided into two cartouches each issuing palmettes, further calligraphic roundel and foliate cartouches, the other side with single gold calligraphic cartouche, the spine with floral vine and small cartouche with date of 112[5], the hilt of silver decorated in repoussé with floral arabesque, plaited design down each side, single inset stone on either side of the pommel, the quillons decorated with further plaits around a central lozenge set with small rubies and diamonds, the sheath similarly decorated with floral arabesques within plaited borders, each side with a lozenge of inset rubies, diamonds and emeralds, hanging loops to each side, two panels of the sheath with small later added tughras of Mahmud II (r. 1808-1839), remains of gilding, hilt and one panel of the sheath later additions
34in. (86.2cm.) long

Sale room notice

The illustration of lot 328 has been incorrectly labelled in the catalogue as lot 329, and vice-versa.

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Lot Essay

One side of the blade of this sword is inscribed with a couplet in Ottoman Turkish, merd-i kamil olana lazim de?il ab-? hayat kim olursa merd-i kamil ebedi bulmaz mamat, 'The perfect man has no need for the water of eternal life, whoever is the perfect man shall never encounter death'.

In the roundel is a signature that reads, 'amal-i ya Izzet (?), sana 1125, 'Work of [O] Izzet, year 1125'.

On the other side of the blade is the inscription ola sen da'ima zevk ve safada, 'May you always exist in purity and delight'.

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