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Lot Essay
Only one sword originating from 12th century Persia has been published. Formerly in a private German collection, it was engraved on both sides with running animals and a naskh benedictory inscription leaving no doubt about its age (Haase, Claus-Peter, Kröger, Jens and Lienert, Ursula: Oriental Splendour - Islamic Art from German Private Collections, Hamburg, 1993, no.123, p.186).
The present sword is very similar indeed in form to that, with the exception of being straight rather than with the slight curve of the German example. Both are relatively narrow in comparison to their length. Both have a flat upper spine for most of the length of the blade, which turns into a second edge near the tip. Both also have a central slight ridge, the edge itself tapering more from the mid-line on the blade.
The oldest sword of the same form is the so-called sword of Charlemagne in the Schatzkammer of the Hofburg in Vienna. A copy of the same sword was made for Aachen (Europa und der Orient, exhibition catalogue, Berlin, 1989, no, pl.622, p.531). The original legend was that it was given to Charlemagne by the caliph Harun al-Rashid. It is now thought to have come to Aachen with the Avar treasure captured and brought back by Eric of Friuli in 796 AD. Its blade is very similar in form to that of the German sword, though slightly less curved. The handle demonstrates the same downward curve as is seen in the present sword's tang. The quillons of the sword of Charlemagne also have a very similar form to those seen here. The present sword would thus appear to date from somewhere between the eighth and the thirteenth century.
The present sword is very similar indeed in form to that, with the exception of being straight rather than with the slight curve of the German example. Both are relatively narrow in comparison to their length. Both have a flat upper spine for most of the length of the blade, which turns into a second edge near the tip. Both also have a central slight ridge, the edge itself tapering more from the mid-line on the blade.
The oldest sword of the same form is the so-called sword of Charlemagne in the Schatzkammer of the Hofburg in Vienna. A copy of the same sword was made for Aachen (Europa und der Orient, exhibition catalogue, Berlin, 1989, no, pl.622, p.531). The original legend was that it was given to Charlemagne by the caliph Harun al-Rashid. It is now thought to have come to Aachen with the Avar treasure captured and brought back by Eric of Friuli in 796 AD. Its blade is very similar in form to that of the German sword, though slightly less curved. The handle demonstrates the same downward curve as is seen in the present sword's tang. The quillons of the sword of Charlemagne also have a very similar form to those seen here. The present sword would thus appear to date from somewhere between the eighth and the thirteenth century.