IRAN, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A ZAND ENAMELLED AND GILT COPPER DAGGER (KARD)
IRAN, LATE 18TH CENTURY
With tapering watered steel blade, the hilt and scabbard each encased in copper and decorated in polychrome enamel, the hilt with pink foliage on white ground, the scabbard with similar design in cartouches on a blue ground scattered with flowers, the spine with a band of gold floral decoration on blue ground, one side with suspension loop, minor loss of enamel
12in. (30.5cm.) long

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

A very similar dagger was sold through these Rooms 28 April 1998, lots 122 and 123, the first of which recently re-appeared and was sold at Sotheby's London, 18 April 2007, lot 157. Both examples were dated AH 1207 (1792-3 AD) and were attributed to Zand Iran. Similar enamelling is found on three daggers in the Khalili Collection that are attributed to Ottoman Turkey (David Alexander, The Arts of War, London, 1992, nos.87-89, pp.146-149). A jambiya with closely related enamelling signed by Mahmud and dated probably 1179/1765-6 is in a private German Collection (Oriental Splendour, Hamburg, 19993, no.146, pp.206-7). The enamelling is also similar to that on a group of zarfs many of which are signed and dated, such as one signed by Taqi and dated 1174/1760 in the Keir Collection (B.W. Robinson et al., Islamic Art in the Keir Collection, London, 1988, no.M.19, p.134 and col.p.34).

More from Art of The Islamic and Indian World

View All