A FINE OTTOMAN SWORD (SHAMSHIR), TURKEY, FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

A FINE OTTOMAN SWORD (SHAMSHIR), TURKEY, FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY with curved single-edged blade of finely watered steel, decorated in gold koftgari with calligraphic panels joined by flowers and scrolling foliage along the back-edge and on each face of the forte (small losses), silver-gilt hilt cast and chased with elaborate bouquets of flowers and foliage against a delicately punched ground, comprising a pair of recurved quillons with scrolling terminals, a pair of langets, back-strap, a pair of foliate washers on each side of the pommel and original gilt knuckle-chain, figured horn grip retained by brass rivets, in its black leather-covered wooden scabbard with large silver-gilt mounts cast and chased en suite with further trophies-of-arms, bouquets and trophies-of-hunting, comprising locket with terminal matching the quillons, middle-band and chape each with a ring for suspension, 79.5 cm blade A Turkish shamshir with hilt and scabbard decorated in a very similar manner is preserved in the Stibbet Museum, Florence (inv. 6433). See Robinson 1973, illus. 54b, and p. 209 no. 137.