*Saber (kilij) with damascened steel blade, ivory and silver - Lot 482

Lot n° 482
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Estimation :
10000 - 15000 EUR
*Saber (kilij) with damascened steel blade, ivory and silver - Lot 482
*Saber (kilij) with damascened steel blade, ivory and silver-gilt handle, and leather scabbard with silver-gilt mounts Probably Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, early 19th century L. 88 cm with scabbard - Gross weight: 1545 g A sabre (kilij) with watered steel blade, silver-gilt and ivory hilt, and leather scabbard with silver-gilt mounts Probably Istanbul, Ottoman Turkey, early 19th century L. 34.5 in. in scabbard - Weight: 54,4 oz 920 CH The damascened steel blade retains a pronounced damascened pattern. The back of the blade is gold-coated and features chased decoration on both sides, consisting of an asymmetrical rumi motif and a large cartouche with an embossed inscription. On one side is inscribed: "There is no hero but 'Ali, no sword but Dhu'l-Faqar", while the other side bears the shahada: "There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of of God". The silver components of the mounts are stamped with an unidentified tughra. Traces of red dye can be seen on the ivory handle. The blade is 70 cm long. This saber belongs to a group of sabers characterized by the extensive use of chased steel on high-quality damascened blades. The production of these blades is attributed to the work of two blacksmiths, Musa Qirimi and Isma'il al-Faraghi, whose signatures can be found on several of these blades. The latter's signature appears on a personal sword of Sultan Selim III, accompanied by the date AH 1214/1799-1800 CE, suggesting that the swords in this group were made close to the court. A particularly comparable sword from the same group is dated AH 1217/1802-1803 CE and was exhibited at Veste Coburg in 4 (Bernd Augustin and Marcus Pilz, Gold & Damascus Steel: The Ottoman Art of Bladesmithing, 2024, pp. 190-191). Leather wear, cracks in scabbard, split seams, slight wear to mounts. CIC certificate pending.
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