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A Jewelled and enamelled sword with earlier Persian blade signed 'Asadullah Isfahani' possibly dedicated to Nadir Shah (r.1736–1747), India and Persia, Early 18th Century
Estimate
130,000 - 160,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- steel, enamel, wood, velvet, colourful stones
the slightly curved watered steel blade inlaid with gold inscriptive cartouches on each side and on straight edge, the hilt with dark green enamelling and chiselled with gilt relief foliate decoration set with colourful stones, the pommel and quillons in the form of tigers' heads with black enamelled details, the velvet covered scabbard mounted with en-suite decoration near the hilt, at the centre and tip, two hooks for attaching
Condition
In overall good condition, some ware to dark purple velvet on scabbard, minor parts of gold inlay on blade missing and very minor erosion, some ware to enamel consistent with age, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
The inscription on one side include:
The basmala, the name God and the ‘Fourteen Innocents’
A Persian couplet:
sari (?) doshman be-zir ast dhu’l-faqara
be-vaqt-e bi-kasi ast allah yara
‘Head of enemy is under the dhu’l-faqar
God is a friend when you are alone’
Those on the other side include:
The basmala, the nada ‘ali quatrain, the signature of the maker as:
‘Work of Asadullah Isfahani’.
The Arabic:
la fata illa ‘ali la sayf illa dhu’l-faqar
‘There is no youth [as brave as] ‘Ali, no sword [as sharp as] dhu’l-faqar’
A Persian verse:
saqi-ye kawthar tu’i ya heydar-e doldol savar
‘You are the cup-bearer of the kawthar O Haydar riding the Duldul’
Haydar is a name of Imam ‘Ali, kawthar, the name of the fountain in Heaven and Duldul, ‘Ali’s mule.
On the edge:
[az?] enayat-e ‘ali mortaza-ye duldul savar
kamarband-e khass shod shamshir-e nader-e taj-dar
‘[Through] ‘Ali Murtada, the rider of Dudul,
The sword of the crowned Nadir became [a part of] royal girdle’
A certain amount of mystery surrounds the name of Asadullah, since whilst it may have represented a single person, it might also have been a title given to Iranian swordsmiths who had attained a particular level of mastery. Literally, Asadullah means 'Lion of God', and is one of the titles given to Imam 'Ali. M. Keyvani notes a story told by Chardin (descended through the oral tradition of the Isfahan bazaar) in which Shah 'Abbas I was gifted a helmet by the Ottoman Sultan and offered a sum of money to anyone who could break it with a sword. Only Asadullah (also known as 'Ustad Asad') managed to do so (cited in Allan and Gilmour 2000, p.102).
The decoration on this hilt, set with colourful stones on a green enamelled ground resembles that on a tulwar dated to the seventeenth century and is associated with swords owned by both Hindus and Muslims (illustrated in Elgood 2004, p.139, no.14.1).
The inscription on one side include:
The basmala, the name God and the ‘Fourteen Innocents’
A Persian couplet:
sari (?) doshman be-zir ast dhu’l-faqara
be-vaqt-e bi-kasi ast allah yara
‘Head of enemy is under the dhu’l-faqar
God is a friend when you are alone’
Those on the other side include:
The basmala, the nada ‘ali quatrain, the signature of the maker as:
‘Work of Asadullah Isfahani’.
The Arabic:
la fata illa ‘ali la sayf illa dhu’l-faqar
‘There is no youth [as brave as] ‘Ali, no sword [as sharp as] dhu’l-faqar’
A Persian verse:
saqi-ye kawthar tu’i ya heydar-e doldol savar
‘You are the cup-bearer of the kawthar O Haydar riding the Duldul’
Haydar is a name of Imam ‘Ali, kawthar, the name of the fountain in Heaven and Duldul, ‘Ali’s mule.
On the edge:
[az?] enayat-e ‘ali mortaza-ye duldul savar
kamarband-e khass shod shamshir-e nader-e taj-dar
‘[Through] ‘Ali Murtada, the rider of Dudul,
The sword of the crowned Nadir became [a part of] royal girdle’
A certain amount of mystery surrounds the name of Asadullah, since whilst it may have represented a single person, it might also have been a title given to Iranian swordsmiths who had attained a particular level of mastery. Literally, Asadullah means 'Lion of God', and is one of the titles given to Imam 'Ali. M. Keyvani notes a story told by Chardin (descended through the oral tradition of the Isfahan bazaar) in which Shah 'Abbas I was gifted a helmet by the Ottoman Sultan and offered a sum of money to anyone who could break it with a sword. Only Asadullah (also known as 'Ustad Asad') managed to do so (cited in Allan and Gilmour 2000, p.102).
The decoration on this hilt, set with colourful stones on a green enamelled ground resembles that on a tulwar dated to the seventeenth century and is associated with swords owned by both Hindus and Muslims (illustrated in Elgood 2004, p.139, no.14.1).