Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 247:
A good representation of one of the distinct swords of the Ottoman Empire, thissword is most classically called a yataghan and is distinguished by the down swept curved bladeand the eared handle. This example is of classic Ottoman Turkish manufacture, likely from theBalkan region, though these swords were known as far east as North Africa and the form foundits way as far west as the Malay peninsula, though there it devolved and adapted itself toindigenous forms. Yataghans were widely used during the Ottoman period in the Anatolianpeninsula and the Balkans, and was a traditional weapon used by the Janissaries-Ottomaninfantry soldiers, the levents or Ottoman marines and the zeibecks gangs of the Aegean Region.The typical inverse curved shape is found also in Northern Ordos bronze blades of Hunnicheritage and the evolution of the form can be traced from to the town of Yatagan in the Anatolianpeninsula. One of the earliest known of the Ottoman form of a yataghan (Acc. No. 1993.14) canbe found in the Metropolitan Museum and is associated with royal Ottoman manufacture.Yataghan blades are often engraved or inlaid with motifs or inscriptions, the latter sometimesliterary, such as a line of poetry or reference to an epic legend, sometimes religious in content, such as a verse from the Koran or a prayer, and sometimes words expressing the thoughts of thesword’s owner. There may also be the mark of the swordsmith, the declaration of God’s unity, and words identifying the ruler of the time and wishing him victorious.This example in the Schmiedt Collection has the classic down swept blade and silver decorationand inscriptions along the side of the blade. The inscriptions appear to be a classic sura from theQuran though difficult to decipher from the images. The hilt is a classic Balkan form and is alsomounted with silver filigreed mounted inlaid with stones along the securing strip holding theblade to the handle.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 31" Blade Length : 25 1/4" Comparable auction sale:https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25424/lot/14/References:1. Elgood, R. (2009). The Arms of Greece. Thames and Hudson.2. Hales, R. (2013). A Lifetimeâ€â„¢s Passion: Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour, 3. Rivkin, K., Isaac, B. (2018) A Study of the Eastern Sword. Independent Publisher4. Baykara, T. (2017). Unrivaled Turkish sword with a unique design: YataghanInternational Journal of Cultural Heritage.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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