Saber
The blade is an example of sophisticated forging. The split tip alludes to Dhu'l- faqar, the sword of the Prophet (also known as the sword of 'Ali), which was believed to have had two points. Appropriately, the blade of this example is inscribed in Arabic: “There is no fata [heroic young man] like 'Ali and no sword like Dhu'l-faqar.”
Artwork Details
- Title: Saber
- Date: hilt, 19th century; blade, late 18th–19th century
- Culture: hilt, Turkish or North African; blade, Iranian
- Medium: Steel, horn, gold
- Dimensions: L. 41 1/8 in. (105 cm); L. of blade 35 13/16 in. (91 cm); W. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 15 oz. (878.8 g)
- Classification: Swords
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1977
- Object Number: 1977.162.7
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Turkish
Grip and guard, second half of the 17th century; blade, late 18th–19th century
Turkish, probably Istanbul
1522–66
Turkish, in the style of Turkman armor
late 15th–16th century
hilt, Turkish; blade, Iranian with Turkish decoration
hilt, 19th century; blade, 18th–19th century
Ahmed Tekelü
ca. 1525–30
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