This sword belongs to a distinctive group of Ottoman parade weapons mounted with gilded silver, studded with turquoise, and set with jeweled nephrite plaques. The group includes swords, shields, quivers, saddles, and related equestrian equipment. These luxurious and colorful pieces were frequently given as diplomatic presents by the Ottoman court from the late sixteenth through the seventeenth century, many of them still preserved in European collections. The saber is now fitted with a later Iranian blade of crucible (“watered”) steel inlaid in gold with the pious motto “I trust in God.”
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Open Access
As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.
API
Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.
Dimensions:H. with scabbard 42 1/16 in. (106.8 cm); H. without scabbard 40 1/8 in. (101.9 cm); H. of blade 35 in. (88.9 cm); Wt. 4 lb. 4 oz. (1928 g); Wt. of scabbard 2 lb. (906 g)
Classification:Swords
Credit Line:Rogers Fund and Pfeiffer Fund, 1978
Accession Number:1978.145a, b
Inscription: Inscribed on the obverse of the blade, near the hilt, in arabic within a gold cartouche: "I trust in God," or "I have entrusted myself to God."
Ex coll.: Prince Alexej Ivanovij Sachovskoj, through inheritance to his son-in law Theodro Keller and to his son Alexander Keller. See: Keller sale, Bukowskis, Stockholm 1920. Pl. XIII no. 185.
Crooke y Navarrot, Juan Bautista Conde de Valencia de Don Juan, and Real Armería. Catálogo Histórico-Descriptivo de la Real Armería de Madrid. Madrid: Fototipias de Hauser y Menet, 1898. p. 372, nos. M.25–M.26.
H. Bukowskis. Förteckning över Greve Kellers samling av orientaliska och europeiska vapen. Stockholm: H. Bukowskis, March 5, 1920. no. 195.
H. Bukowskis. Oljemålningar, möbler, keramik, europeisk och orientalisk, glas, silver, guld och bijouterier, textilier, tenn, akvareller, etsningar, gravyrer, vapen. Stockholm: H. Bukowskis, December 13, 1937. no. 1063.
Miller, Yuri. "Jade in Turkish Applied Art of the Seventeenth century." Bulletin of the State Hermitage Museum pp. 66–69, 91 (jade-studded Turkish arms discussed).
Christie, Manson & Woods. Fine Antique Arms: The Properties of the Hon. Mrs. A. Bromley-Martin, the Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, and from Various Sources. London: Christie, Manson & Woods, October 13, 1975. no. 14, pl. 3.
Melikian, Souren. "The Art Market: The Confusion at Islamic Auctions." The International Herald Tribune p. 7.
Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co. Catalogue of Islamic Arms and Armour, Glass, Textiles, Ceramics, Woodwork and Metalwork, Qajar Enamels, Moghul Jades, Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese and South-East Asian Art. London: Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co., 04/03/1978. p. 34, no. 132, pl. XXIII.
Nickel, Helmut, and Stuart W. Pyhrr. "Arms and Armor." Notable Acquisitions 1975–1979 (1979), pp. 27–28, ill.
Alexander, David, Stuart W. Pyhrr, and Will Kwiatkowski. Islamic Arms and Armor in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2015. pp. 158–60, no. 59, ill.
Rivkin, Kirill, and Brian Isaac. A Study of the Eastern Sword. Mankato, U.S.: Dr. Kirill Rivkin, 2017. pp. 175–76, fig. 94.
Blade signed by Acem Oglu (Turkish, active 19th century)
19th century
Resources for Research
The Met's Libraries and Research Centers provide unparalleled resources for research and welcome an international community of students and scholars.
The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can connect to the most up-to-date data and public domain images for The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.
