THE HILT SIGNED MUHAMMAD 'ALI, THE BLADE SIGNED HASSAN, IRAN, DATED RAMADAN AH 1253/NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1837 AD

Details

A QAJAR CARVED WALRUS-IVORY HILTED DAGGER (JAMBIYYA)
THE HILT SIGNED MUHAMMAD 'ALI, THE BLADE SIGNED HASSAN, IRAN, DATED RAMADAN AH 1253/NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1837 AD
The double-edged watered-steel blade of typical curved form with a medial ridge, the forte engraved with animal hunting scenes, the walrus-ivory hilt with elegant nasta'liq inscription cartouches above and below a central register carved with Qajar princes hunting and an amorours noble couple drinking set inside lozenge borders, the top of the hilt with a dome-shaped brass finial inlaid with foiled hardstones, the velvet-covered wooden sheath with an ivory finial
16in. (40.6cm.) long

Engraved

On one side on the handle, in Persian, qabze-ye khanjaret jahangir ast garche yekmosht-e ostokhan ast, 'The handle of your dagger is world-conquering, even though it is just a handful of bone'
On the other side in Arabic and Persian, inna fatahna laka fathan mubin shahr-e ramadan 'amal-e muhammad 'ali sana 1253, 'Indeed we have given you a clear victory [Qur'an LXI, sura al-saff, part of v.13]. The month of Ramadan, made by Muhammad 'Ali, year 1253 [1837-38 AD]'
On two sides of the blade, respectively'amal-e Hassan, 'Made by Hassan'

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country. These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Lot Essay

Two similar Qajar daggers bearing the same inscription are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One is published in George Cameron Stone, A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor, In All Countries and in All Times, New York, 1999, no.37, fig.396, p.313. The other is published online, https://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/25032.

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