A JADE HILTED DAGGER AND SHEATH

OTTOMAN TURKEY, SULTAN ABDULHAMID I PERIOD

Details

A JADE HILTED DAGGER AND SHEATH
OTTOMAN TURKEY, SULTAN ABDULHAMID I PERIOD
The watered single-edged steel blade with flat ridge on top surface and point terminating in the square section, the grey-green jade hilt inlaid with pattern of spiralling arabesques on each side, the pommel inset with rubies and diamonds, the hilt joined to the blade with deeply engraved floral quillons, the silver-gilt sheath lightly engraved with floral decoration and floral finial, stamped with tughra, blade tarnished, one stone missing, light rubbing and scratches to sheath
7in. (43cm.) long

Lot Essay

The tughra is that of Sultan Abdulhamid I (reigned 1774-1789). The hilt is consciously archaistic, copying a style which was popular over a century before, exemplified by an example in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (Masterpieces of Islamic Art in the Hermitage Museum, exhibition catalogue, Kuwait, 1990, no.86, p.117).

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