ARABIAN PENINSULA, 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Details

AN ARABIAN DAGGER (JAMBIYYA)
ARABIAN PENINSULA, 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY
The double-edged steel blade of typical ‘jambiyya’ form with hook and raised central ridge, with yellow sticker inscribed ‘997’, the silver-gilt hilt of hourglass form extensively decorated with filigree, the pommel bosses with seed pearls, one missing, the reverse plainer, the wooden scabbard entirely covered with gilded silver sheet and decorated en suite to the hilt, with later chains and ornaments attached to four suspension loops
13 ¾in. (35cm.) long

Literature

Howard Ricketts and Philippe Missillier, Splendeur des Armes Orientales, Paris, 1988, no.112
Howard Ricketts and David Sulzberger, Islamic Military Heritage, Nine centuries of Islamic arms and armour, Riyadh, 1991, p.41, no. 219 (back cover illustration)

Exhibited

Splendeur des Armes Orientales, Paris, 1988
Islamic Military Heritage, Nine centuries of Islamic arms and armour, Riyadh, 1991

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

This jambiyya is closely related in form to the dagger presented to T.E. Lawrence by Sherif Nasir in 1917 now in the National Army Museum, London (2016-08-6-1), although ours is much finer in its execution. The quality of the workmanship here demonstrates the high degree of skill of the armourers, and the traditional importance attached to fine weapons. A particularly fine detail, and testament to the maker’s familiarity with fine arms and armour traditions, is the illusion of a chape rendered with gold filigree.

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