Kard Ottoman - Lot 383

Kard Ottoman Steel, steel damascened with gold, vermeil and red stones, leather scabbard on wooden core, silver mounts Turkey, 18th/19th century H. 34.5 cm (with scabbard 37.3 cm) The blade of this kard (straight single-edged) dagger is made of fine damascus steel with a graduated pattern known as "Mohammed's scale". This technique consists of striking the blade with a point during forging, to create a pattern of regular lines. Blades with this decoration were highly prized, as much for their technical prowess as for the spiritual dimension of this type of decoration, linked to the 99 names of God (al-asma al-husna), and making Mohammed's ladder a ladder of Muslim mysticism. The tubular steel handle features gold damascened decoration of geometric and floral motifs. The vermeil ferrule is set with red stones. The leather scabbard features silver mountings chased with foliate scrolls, with a coral-colored end cap.