AN OTTOMAN PALA SWORD

The fibrous horn grips terminating in a characteristic rolled pommel, the bronze guard with geometrical borders and quillons terminating in bead finials. The long, broad, single-edged Persian blade wrought with complex fullering and pronounced yelman back edge, forged of fine black wootz damascus steel, chiseled with a lengthy Quranic inscription at the right forte bordered in gold, with a pair of cartouches at the left forte, the upper reading, O JUDGE OF NEEDS, the lower chiseled with the famous lion-symbol of Assad Allah and likewise enriched with gold inlay including the Ottoman moon and star. In its leather-covered wooden scabbard with steel mounts. 18th-19th century. Wear to grips, small areas of light pitting to blade, scabbard mounts possibly replaced in period. Overall length 85.3 cm / 33 1/2". Condition II