A rare and important Ottoman sabre and scabbard with silver-gilt mounts set with turquoise and gold-inlaid jade panels, Turkey, first half 17th century

the curved steel blade, fullered and double-edged at the tip and stamped on one face at the forte, the hilt decorated with silver-gilt mounts chased and engraved with stylised floral motifs and set with turquoise and jade plaques, the quillons with bud finials, the red velvet-covered wooden scabbard with silver-gilt lock and chape and further mounts decorated ensuite to the hilt with elaborate and large jade plaques bordered with turquoise, two suspension loops

in overall good condition, some scratches to the blade, all stones and jade intact, as viewed.
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This impressive Ottoman sabre, with its sumptuous silver-gilt hilt and scabbard, would have been made and used for ceremonial purposes and/or as a diplomatic gift, displaying and signalling the magnificence and wealth of the Ottoman Empire. 

Similar examples can be found in a number of museums and collections, notably, a nearly exact production is extant in the Kremlin Armory in shamshir form and another similarly decorated piece in the form of a straight sword both feature lobed mounts decorated with jade plaques and turquoise insets along with an en-suite shield (inv. no. Or-4428 and illustrated in Paris 2003, p.158, no.115). Outside of flattering its benefactor, a gifted object such as this reflected the prestige and sophistication of its patron. This sabre in particular exhibits the majesty of the Ottoman crown, and wealth of its domain; it is fitted with a non-typical eastern form sabre blade of exceptional quality, with a hilt, locket, and chape adorned with precious stones and metals sourced from across the Empire. Even though such an item appears almost too fine to hold practical purposes, it is nonetheless functional as an edged weapon, owing to expert forging techniques and material acquisition (Żygulski 1984, p.158).

In addition to the Kremlin Armoury, similar pieces can be found in a number of museums and collections, including two in the Wawel State Collections of Art, Krakow, Poland and another two in the Sate Art Collections at Wawel Castle in Krakow from the Treasury of the Jasna Góra at Częstochowa (illustrated in Żygulski 1984, p.115, no.113 a&b and p.116, no.114 a&b). It is through such diplomatic gifts that commercial and political relations between the Ottoman Empire and its neighbours grew and explains the profusion of Ottoman precious gifts in European collections. 

The ornamental use of jade plaques and turquoise insets seen on this sabre can also be compared with the workmanship on other Ottoman arms and armour regalia. One such example, slightly earlier than the present piece, is a fine sword dated to the period of Murad III (r.1574–95) and currently in the Furusiyya Art Foundation (illustrated in Mohammed 2007, p.67, no.31).

An Ottoman miniature now in the Topkapi Palace Museum (inv. no. H2169, fol.13a), and attributed to Ahmed Nakşi, circa 1620, shows a portrait of Sultan Genç Osman on horseback (illustrated in Tuzcan 2006, p.55, no. 27). The horse is adorned with gold and colourful gem-set accessories resembling those described in Krakow and Wawel, and the rider, Sultan Genç Osman, is featured with a long sword and scabbard with gilded and gem-set polylobed mounts similar to those of the present example. This contemporary miniature documents not only the way in which such items would have been worn, but also the grandness of appearance which they conveyed.

bibliography

Z. Żygulski, Ottoman Art in the Service of the Empire, New York University Press, New York, 1992.
Z. Żygulski, Stara Broń W Polskich Zbiorach, Wydanie II Poprawione, Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza, Warsaw, 1984.
O. Mironov, and E. Tikhomirov, Ornamental weapons and horse accoutrements of the 17th and 18th centuries, State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin, MA Fine Art, Moscow, 1986.
J-P. Digard (ed.), Chevaux et cavaliers arabes dans les arts d'Orient et d'Occident, exhibition catalogue, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, 2003.
H. Tuzcan, Children of the Ottoman Seraglio: Customs and costumes of the princes and princesses, Istanbul 2006.