A FINE PERSIAN ENGRAVED AND DAMASCENED STEEL AXE-HEAD (tabarzin) with slightly downcurved blade, each side superbly chased with a cusped medallion containing an animal combat group amongst trees, surrounded by gold damascened scrolling arabesques and leaves, each side of the shaft with a similar cartouche depicting a sleeping lion, the hammer reverse with a flacon attacking another bird, the upper ridge of the blade with floral damascening, the lower with a cypress tree and a signature cartouche, 'the work of the slave Lutf 'Ali, 1150', (1737-8 AD), slightly later mounted in India with an ivory faced steel shaft with gold damascened floral upper terminal, 18th century (slight wear)

Details

A FINE PERSIAN ENGRAVED AND DAMASCENED STEEL AXE-HEAD (tabarzin) with slightly downcurved blade, each side superbly chased with a cusped medallion containing an animal combat group amongst trees, surrounded by gold damascened scrolling arabesques and leaves, each side of the shaft with a similar cartouche depicting a sleeping lion, the hammer reverse with a flacon attacking another bird, the upper ridge of the blade with floral damascening, the lower with a cypress tree and a signature cartouche, 'the work of the slave Lutf 'Ali, 1150', (1737-8 AD), slightly later mounted in India with an ivory faced steel shaft with gold damascened floral upper terminal, 18th century (slight wear)
23in. (58.5cm.) long

Lot Essay

For a discussion of the axes by this craftsman, see Melikian-Chirvani, A. S. 'The Tabarzins of Lotf 'Ali', in Elgood, R.: Islamic Arms and Armour, London 1979

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