Dagger A / Sheath B - Straight metal dagger (hanjar?) with three vertical grooves on each side of blade and two small crosses near handle on one side only. Rhino horn (?) handle with engraved silver and copper at top and bottom edges. Matching silver and copper engrave sheath with two silver rings, one on each side. Typical of Jewish metalworkers.
Culture: Islamic, PersianMaterials/Techniques: steel, goldNote: Inscription: In the year 1035 this golden helmet was finished; keep blessed the head which always carries this helmet on its brow.Note: Inscription: One with a helmet on his head, all gold and jewels, in the reign of Shah Abbas, world conquering, world sustaining. How shall I describe him, glowing with youth, his helmet is like a heavenly moon.Note: Inscription: In the reign of the King of Kings, as exalted as Darius, this golden helmet was finished, an all bounteous, world conquering prince endowed with glory and fame...Padishah, Shah Abbas, whose sway extends from China to Syria. It behoves to to place such a helmet as this on the head of (warriors) with pomp and state a thousandfold. None befits it than the brow of the Shah, whose rule sways all, high and low. Keep blessed the head which always carries this helmet on its brow...The crown of the heads of the prophets...Oh thou Compassionate, thou Bounteous.
"Khanjar". Double edged steel blade, straight sides tapering to a point. Medial ridge on both faces. Very blunt edges. Groove along each edge forming a point on each face about 8 cm. from point of blade. Relief and engraved decoration in floral pattern, gilded, on both faces near grip. Tang inserted in two-piece ivory grip which has a wide silver binding ornamented with numerous studs. Two (originally four?) silver nails.
Double-edged steel blade tapering to point, inscribed: “Mskomen 1889” and “Sarajevo 1889”. Two-piece ivory grip with concave sides near the triangular end, the ivory decorated with brass and red stone studs and annulets. Brass socket at base of grip continued into brass band all around.Inscribed
Although their blades were often of inferior quality, Yemeni daggers had beautifully ornamented sheaths with elaborate silverwork, as seen here. These daggers, which symbolically highlighted male courage and strength, played an important role in certain dances by men. Daggers were positioned in belts made of colorful fabric. In addition to being silversmiths, Yemeni Jews excelled as producers of textiles and were known to weave the belts that held the daggers.
The dagger is inscribed in Arabic nusfi 1267, meaning "half" and 1267 (the date); it is inscribed in Hebrew mahasit (half). The date may be associated with the reign of al Mutawakkil "Ali (AH 1267) or that of al-Mansur Ahmad (AH 1266–67).For the latest information about this object, daggers; sheaths (cases), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: [Stamp] In Arabic: nusfi 1267; [Engraved] In Hebrew: Sulayman Salih, mahasitReign: Al-Mutawakkil ‘Ali (?); Al-Mansur Ahmad (?)Style:
Of the various types of Islamic arms, the sword (or saber) and dagger were the most prized by European and American collectors, including Henry Walters. These works were admired for their diverse shapes and materials and especially for their rich and intricate surface decoration.For the latest information about this object, swords, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Ottoman DynastyInscriptions: [Signature] Inscribed on inlaid silver: Work of Umar [Sahib Agha?] 1225.Reign: Style:
Of the various types of Islamic arms, the sword (or saber) and dagger were the most prized by European and American collectors, including Henry Walters. These works were admired for their diverse shapes and materials and especially for their rich and intricate surface decoration.For the latest information about this object, swords, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Ottoman DynastyInscriptions: [Signature] Inscribed on inlaid silver: Work of Umar [Sahib Agha?] 1225.Reign: Style:
Of the various types of Islamic arms, the sword (or saber) and dagger were the most prized by European and American collectors, including Henry Walters. These works were admired for their diverse shapes and materials and especially for their rich and intricate surface decoration.For the latest information about this object, swords; scabbards, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Ottoman DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:
Curved, double-edged blade, tapering to point, wide shallow groove and pronounced medial ridge on both faces for most of length. White jade handle. Continuous chevron pattern on grip, floral scroll on wide base and five lotus buds in the round on top of knob.
Sheath covered with megenta felt on one side and with silver filagree on other, ornamented with six heavy silver rings. Attached to belt of red and silver metallic cloth.
The sheath is entirely decorated at its drop-shaped tip with spirals, rosettes, and rhombic appliqués. The upper part displays arabesque leaves and tendrils and the buckle as well as lower tip is decorated with rhombic and rosette-shaped appliqués. The back of the upper part is blank. Thuma daggers were produced only for the Zaydi Muslim elite. They were very precious, and kept in families for generations.
On the back of the sheath is an Arabic stamp with the name of the ruler and a date: al-Mansur 115x. The stamp belongs to Imam al-Mansur al-Husayn, who lived from AH 1139 to 1161 (AD 1775-1809).
An engraved inscription in Hebrew names the silversmith: H(arun) Kasil. It is possible that H(arun) Kasil was the same Kasil who lived also under al-Mahdi al-"Abbas, see Walters 57.2319.For the latest information about this object, daggers; sheaths (cases), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: [Stamp] In Arabic: al-Mansur 115x; [Engraved] In Hebrew:
H(arun) (?) KasilReign: Al-Mansur al-Husayn (1139-1161 AH/AD 1775-1809)Style:
The chased front of the sheath is has a perforated, arabesque floral and tendril décor. The buckle is a modern replacement and has rhombic and bead-molded attachments. The tip is formed in the shape of a bud.
The back is blank, but has a stamp with the date in Arabic: Qifal 1176. The date belongs to the reign of al-Mahdi al "Abbas (AH 1161-1189/AD 1748-1775).
An engraved inscription in Hebrew names the silversmith: Sulayman Maswari, rub'i. The term "rub'i" is Arabic (but written here in Hebrew script) and means "half."For the latest information about this object, daggers; sheaths (cases), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: [Stamp] In Arabic: Qifal 1176; [Engraved] In Hebrew: Sulayman Maswari, rub'iReign: Al-Mahdi al ‘Abbas (AH 1161–1189/AD 1748–1775)Style:
Dynasty: Ottoman DynastyInscriptions: [Signature] Haji Salim from Trebizond; [Translation] O God, for us make it easy and do not make it difficult. Bring us good luck and save us from bad eyes.Reign: Style: Ottoman
This is part of the so-called "Turkish Hunting Set" consisting of the Ottoman gun (Walters 51.84) and various accessories contained within a large Parisian case (Walters 64.165).
The dagger fits inside a compartment in the butt of the gun. The steel blade is false damascened with gold wire, a technique called "koftgari", to create foliate patterns and two partly legible Turkish couplet inscriptions. Two long sections of the blade are cut through, so that the middle section stands free and ends in a triangular leaf shaped section studded with gems. The grip, guard, and pommel are gilded silver, set emeralds and rubies, and engraved with abstract designs.
For the latest information about this object, daggers, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Ottoman DynastyInscriptions: [Transcription] 2 partly legible Turkish coupletsReign: Style:
Made for Ottoman sultan Mahmud I (r. 1730-1754), this bejeweled gun conceals compartments for a dazzlingly adorned dagger and set of writing instruments. To get to them, one opens the hinged door bearing the diamond-encrusted insignia or tuğra of Mahmud I and the date AH 1145 (1732/33 CE). This unique set of objects represents two activities important to Ottoman sultans in this period: marksmanship and calligraphy. Sultans were expected to be both proficient hunters and adept writers. The gun was never shot, though, and therefore probably served as a spectacular element of imperial regalia.
Many artisans were involved in the design, engineering, and decoration of Mahmud’s gun set. The gunsmith Isma‘il impressed his mark on the gun’s barrel. The top of the barrel is also inscribed with the date AH 1145 (1732/33 CE) and the Arabic phrase ma sha’a Allah (What God has willed). The jeweling can be attributed to an Armenian Christian, Hovhannes Agha Duzian (d. 1744), who was chief goldsmith under Mahmud’s predecessor, Ahmed III, and continued to work in that elevated position for Mahmud I. The miquelet lock, added to the gun later potentially replacing the original, also bears the name of its maker, Muhammad, and its former owner, Ahmad Khan.For the latest information about this object, guns; muskets, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Ottoman DynastyInscriptions: [Translation] On barrel: What God wills; [Translation] On flintlock: Work of Muhammad, its owner is Ahmad Khan; [Seal or Tughra] Hidden under panel in stock: Sultan Mahmud IReign: Style:
This is part of the so-called "Turkish Hunting Set" consisting of the Ottoman gun (Walters 51.84) and various accessories contained within a large Parisian case (Walters 64.165). The pen box fits into the butt of the gun and itself contains a pen holder (Walters 51.87) and a knife (Walters 57.620). It also has an inkwell in the end that opens.For the latest information about this object, pen boxes, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
This pen ("kalam") holder is part of the writing set inside of the pen box (Walters 51.78) that is contained in the Ottoman gun (Walters 51.84), which belongs to the so-called "Turkish Hunting Set." The piece is studded with rubies and emeralds and has an all-over floral design spiraling from the top to the bottom. The pen's reed nib is inserted at one end and the other is capped with a bezel set emerald.For the latest information about this object, boxes (containers), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
This dagger, or "jambiya", is decorated with a floral pattern in a half-medallion.For the latest information about this object, jambiya; daggers (weapons), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Mughal DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:
The scalloped blade is inscribed with an Arabic couplet: “In cowardice is shame, and in boldness is nobility. For man does not by cowardice escape from fate.”For the latest information about this object, swords; scimitars, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Ottoman DynastyInscriptions: [Translation] Inscribed on blade: In cowardice is shame, and in boldness is nobility; for a man does not by cowardice escape from fate.Reign: Style: