A GEM-SET JADE-HILTED OTTOMAN SWORD (KILIÇ) ISTANBUL, TURKEY, CIRCA 1900...

A GEM-SET JADE-HILTED OTTOMAN SWORD (KILIÇ)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY, CIRCA 1900 WITH EARLIER COMPONENTS
The single-edged steel blade with false edge and extensive chiselled vegetal motifs against a gilded and punched ground, with two cartouches containing Arabic inscriptions in overlaid gold, the spine gold-overlaid with simple vegetal motifs, the gilt guard set on the front with numerous diamonds, rubies and emeralds and fitted with two 18th century jade plaques set with rubies in a contemporary gold vegetal pattern, with later star-shaped gold assemblage set with six faceted diamonds to create a star-and-crescent motif, the reverse decorated with a fine grapevine motif, the hilt a repurposed pale jade ‘pistol-grip’ dagger hilt with gilt mount containing seven red gems on each side of the pommel, with metal chain connecting the pommel to a quillon, the scabbard decorated en suite
36 ¼in. (92cm.) overall in sheath

Provenance
By repute, private West Coast collection
Acquired from UK trade, 1994

Literature
World Islamic Civilisations Festival, Kuala Lumpur, 1994