OTTOMAN KILIJ SABRE

c. 1800 OTTOMAN EMPIRE

An extremely fine Ottoman kilij sabre. Blade with gold koftgari decoration showing floral patterns and short texts of prayers: “In God I trust- what God willed”. Blade has a fantastic wootz pattern visible all the way. Wide fuller goes close to the tip and blade curves to a beautiful yelman notch. Back of the blade is decorated with three gold stripes. Hilt made of horn mounted in gold decorated steel. Crossguard has chiselled thick oyster shells as tips; style which became fashionable around 1800s. Wooden scabbard covered with leather and bound with copper string pattern. Scabbard mounts are silver with rocaille patterns and lowest mount is made of steel with koftgari floral pattern.

• Total Length 85 cm
• Blade Length 67 cm