Saber with Scabbard
This is a classic example of a high-quality Iranian saber (shamshir) from the eighteenth century. The blade of crucible (“watered”) steel bears the names of the legendary Iranian swordsmith Asadullah of Isfahan and his patron Shah 'Abbas I of Persia (r. 1588–1629). As Asadullah’s name is found on blades inscribed with dates ranging from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, it is likely that most of the signatures are false.
Artwork Details
- Title: Saber with Scabbard
- Date: blade possibly dated to A.H. 1191/1777–78 CE
- Culture: Persian
- Medium: Steel, wood, leather, ivory, gold
- Dimensions: L. 39 1/4 in. (99.7 cm); L. of blade 32 3/4 in. (83.1 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 12 oz. (784 g); Wt. of scabbard 15 oz. (420 g)
- Classification: Swords
- Credit Line: Bequest of Richard B. Seager, 1926
- Object Number: 26.35.1a, b
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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