A Rare Turkish Silver-Mounted Dagger
Reign Of Mehmet IV (1648-87), Circa 1680
With slightly curved double-edged blade of flattened ovoidal section, darkly figured hardwood two-piece grip of waisted octagonal section (old repairs) set with twelve silver roundels (some replaced) each chased with a flower-head against concentric circles, and silver grip-strap engraved with wrigglework, in original wood-lined scabbard encased in parcel-gilt silver, the outer side faceted and lightly embossed and chased with two vertical bands of running foliage against a finely pricked ground, between three bands of very finely nielloed symmetrical scrolling foliage, the inner side (minor damage) decorated with engraved and nielloed palmettes, and with suspension loop, the stepped arcaded locket and spherical terminal decorated en suite, the former with upper border of two plaited silver bands, and retaining traces of original gilding
18.3 cm. blade

Footnotes:

Almost certainly captured from the Turks at the time of the Siege of Vienna in 1683

For two similar daggers see Christie's South Kensington, Antique Arms and Armour, 16 July 1997, lot 10; and another sold in these Rooms, Fine Antique Arms & Armour..., 23 September 2020, lot 45

See also Holger Schuckelt, Die Türekische Cammer, Sammlung orientalisher Kunst in der kurtfürstlich-sächsischen Rüstkammer, 2010, pp. 260-261, figs. 234 and 235
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