Lot Essay
The inscriptions on the blade translate: 'The slave of the king of Divine trusteeship, 'Abbas', 'The work of Asadullah', and 'The slave of the king of Divine trusteeship, Isma'il'.
The inscriptions on the hilt translate: 'In the name of God, the almighty, the merciful. Help is from Allah and victory is near'.
Many sword blades bearing the "signature" of Asad Ullah are dated, or undated but carry the name of Safavid rulers. Dated examples range from AH 811/1408-9 AD to AH 1222/1808 AD. Apart from this lot, there is one other sword with the names of both Isma'il [I (1502-24) or II (1576-78)] and 'Abbas [I (1587-1629), II (1642-67) or III (1731-36)].
Mayer, L.A.: Islamic Armourers and their marks, Geneva 1962, pp.26-29
The inscriptions on the hilt translate: 'In the name of God, the almighty, the merciful. Help is from Allah and victory is near'.
Many sword blades bearing the "signature" of Asad Ullah are dated, or undated but carry the name of Safavid rulers. Dated examples range from AH 811/1408-9 AD to AH 1222/1808 AD. Apart from this lot, there is one other sword with the names of both Isma'il [I (1502-24) or II (1576-78)] and 'Abbas [I (1587-1629), II (1642-67) or III (1731-36)].
Mayer, L.A.: Islamic Armourers and their marks, Geneva 1962, pp.26-29