Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 125:
A good example of a rare sword called a Laz Bichaq, these swords are most associated with the Laz people of the eastern Anatolian peninsula along the eastern Black Seanear Georgia. Of classic form these swords have a double recurved blade with a swollen tip which culminates in a sharp point, similar to early Tatar swords of the 14th-16th centuries.The Laz people were known as pirates and these swords would have been worn shipboard. This style of sword, being relatively short and with good cutting ability, was well suited to use on small and medium sized boats, such as those used by Laz pirates. Many of these swords were made in Sormene, Turkey, and there is still an active modern knifemaking industry in the region. The Laz Bichaq has a distinctive style of pommel with a bifurcated tip that approximates the Turkish yataghan form but is distinct in the sharpness of the ears. These are very fragile and often broken on extant examples.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 31 1/2" Blade Length : 25"References:1. Elgood, R. (2009). The Arms of Greece. Thames and Hudson.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
Share this lot:
