AN IMPORTANT CURVED SWORD (KILIJ) WITH SILVER-GILT FITTINGS

OTTOMAN TURKEY, MID 18TH CENTURY

Details

AN IMPORTANT CURVED SWORD (KILIJ) WITH SILVER-GILT FITTINGS
OTTOMAN TURKEY, MID 18TH CENTURY
The curved single-edged blade of typical form, the forte with gold damascened muhaqqaq in two rectangular cartouches with the shahada, a roundel on each side with further Qur'anic inscription, further gold damascened decoration along the spine and a cusped cartouche below the hilt, the rainguard with a moulded leafy rococo design, rounded acorn-shaped quillons, the curved grip and pommel of two plates of horn joined by a rosette finial pin and divided by a gilded band with an engraved chevron design, the sheath with repoussé silver-gilt fittings decorated with scrolling cusped foliage issuing smaller floral blooms and bordered on either side by bands of strapwork, studded rings for suspension connected to a plate with rococo style shells connected with bands of rosettes, the middle section of the sheath covered with black leather, a black leather outer sheath with two silver-thread embroidered geometric medallions, the fittings stamped with tughra marks
35in. (89cm.) long

Engraved

In the roundel in the middle of the blade the names of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and their dog
In the other roundel, la fata illa 'ali la sayf illa dhu'l-fiqar, 'There is no champion but 'Ali and no sword but Dhu'l-Fiqar'
In the cartouches above and below, the shahada

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Lot Essay

A sword in the Rüstkammer in Dresden has very similar scallop motifs which are also found on both the hilt and the sheath of our sword. The sword in Dresden is marked with the tughra of Sultan Osman III (r.1754-57) suggesting that our sword dates to the same period,(Holger Schuckelt, Die Türckische Cammer, exhibition catalogue, Dresden, 2010, no. 346, p.353).

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