Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

A fine silver-gilt mounted Ottoman sword, gently curving bi-fullered blade 31 in., silver-gilt hilt comprising an ornate cross piece with scrolling quillons and moulded decoration, and a grip with characteristic bulbous hooked terminal; leather covered wooden scabbard with silver-gilt mountings comprising an elongated locket with impressed decoration to a border and with a shaped flange that mates with the langets of the hilt, and two bands with moulded spiral decoration and loose rings; steel chape - probably earlier - retaining traces of gold koftgari; silver gilt parts marked for the period of Abdul Hamid II (1876-1909). The blade and chape appear earlier than the marked parts, and the chape is of a different style to the upper scabbard mountings, suggesting a weapon that has been (lavishly) re-mounted.