IRAN, BLADE BY ASADULLAH ISFAHANI, 17TH CENTURY, MOUNTS LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A SAFAVID SWORD (SHAMSHIR)
IRAN, BLADE BY ASADULLAH ISFAHANI, 17TH CENTURY, MOUNTS LATE 18TH CENTURY
The gently curving single-edged watered steel blade, finely watered on both sides, one side inlaid in gold with an two elegant nasta'liq inscription cartouches, the ivory-faced hilt with gold medial band with floral design, black leather covered wooden sheath, the quillions and suspension loops with very finely engraved nasta'liq inscriptions with the names and titles of Lutf 'Ali Khan Zand, slight damages to the hilt
35½in. (90.2cm.) 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. Please note that the lots of Iranian origin are subject to U.S. trade restrictions which currently prohibit the import into the United States. Similar restrictions may apply in other countries.

Lot Essay

The signature panel on the blade reads: amal-e Asadalah Isfahani bandeh-i shah wilayat Abbas.

The cartouches of Persian nasta'liq on the mounts together read:
shamshir-e shahanshah-e jahan lutf'ali khan
dar ma'rekeh barqist jahan-suz o sharar bar
an khosraw-e heydar del in tigh-e ba qidar [ghidar]
an kard keh ba kharejian haydar-e karar
iman shodeh jahan az fitneh ta u zad be-kaf
in tigh-e jahangir-e shahanshah-e jahandar

(The sword of the King of kings of the World, Lutf'ali Khan
Is like lightening which burns the world and is scintillating in the battle-fields
The king with the heart of a lion and this relinquishing sword
Did what 'Ali did with the Kharajites
The World will be safe from discord as soon as he will take up in his hand
This World-conquering sword of the possessor of the World, the King of Kings)

Lutf 'Ali Khan (b. 1180/AD d. 1209 AD), was the last Zand ruler of the country based in Shiraz. He fought Agha Muhammad Khan of Qajar and is known as one of the most courageous rulers of Iran. For an account of his struggle and battles with Agha Muhammad Khan's army, see M.Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, 1700-1900, vol. 3, Tehran, 1966, pp. 183-93.

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