Ottoman Empire, c. 1800 or earlier; A fine Ottoman sword (shamshir), the blade with long fuller to each side, one of which is filled with gold inlay Islamic script. Horn grips. Wood core scabbard sheathed in repousse silver.

Length of sword: approximately 39" (99cm)

Provenance: The John J. Slocum Collection Mr. Slocum (1914-1997) collected most of his antiquities while serving as US cultural attache to Egypt in the 1960s. Later, he served as Assistant to the Director of The Smithsonian, was appointed by President Reagan to the Presidential Cultural Property Advisory Committee, and was a Trustee Emeritus of the Archaeological Institute of America. He was a well-respected scholar/collector, whose medieval crusader coins were sold in a single-owner sale at Sotheby’s, London in 1997.

Chips to quillon, loose wire on grip. Scabbard is missing a section of silver sheathing.