Enrica Medugno
Sale Coordinator
Property from the Mohammed Khalil Collection
Lot 91*
An Ottoman niello and parcel-gilt silver-hilted steel sword (yataghan) with Greek inscriptions Balkans, dated AH 1227/ AD 1812-13
12 November 2024, 11:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£7,000 - £9,000
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Oliver White
Head of Department
An Ottoman niello and parcel-gilt silver-hilted steel sword (yataghan) with Greek inscriptions
Balkans, dated AH 1227/ AD 1812-13
Balkans, dated AH 1227/ AD 1812-13
the single-edged steel blade of slightly curved form with ridged spine, the blade chiselled with partial foliate cartouche near forte, profusely decorated in gold overlay with an inscription-filled cartouche running down the length of the blade to one side, two further inscription-filled cartouches, two inscription-filled cartouches to the other side, one in the form of a six-pointed star, other foliate decoration, the spine chiselled with a palmette and decorated in gold overlay with foliate designs, inscription-filled cartouche to hilt end of spine, the gilt-silver grips chased and decorated in niello with trophies, floral sprays and birds, each ear of the pommel with a phoenix rising from flames and Greek inscription 'ΦΙΝΗΞ' (phoenix), the wood scabbard with brass mounts decorated in repoussé with floral sprays and other vegetal motifs
79 cm. long
79 cm. long
Footnotes
Provenance
The Mohammed Khalil Collection.
Published
M. K. Ibrahim, Islamic Arms and Armour, Vol. I, United Arab Emirates, 2022, p. 389, Cat. No. 160.
Inscriptions: to one side, in the long inscription down the blade, Turkish verses about the sword; in the oblong cartouche, tawakkaltu 'ala allah, 'I put my trust in God'; in the trefoil device, sene 1227, 'Year 1227 (1812-13)'; to the other side, in the teardrop cartouche, sahib dervish ahmed efendi, 'The owner is Dervish Ahmed Efendi'; in the five-pointed star, ya allah, 'O God!'; to the base of the blade, ma sha'a allah, 'Whatsoever God wills'.
For another yataghan with a niello silver hilt decorated with mythical creatures see Robert Elgood, The Arms of Greece, London, 2009, p. 145, no. 165.