ticketsMember | Make a donation

Saber with Scabbard

blade possibly dated to A.H. 1191/1777–78 CE
Not on view
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

Object Information
  • 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

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Dagger (Kard) with Sheath, Steel, ivory, gold, wood, leather, iron, Persian, Qajar
Dagger (Kard) with Sheath
Persian, Qajar
ca. 1800
Dagger (Kard) with Sheath, Steel, agate, gold, wood, velvet, copper, Persian, Qajar
Dagger (Kard) with Sheath
Persian, Qajar
ca. 1800
Shield (<i>Sipar</i>), Steel, gold, velvet, iron, Persian
Shield (Sipar)
Persian
late 18th–19th century
Saber with Scabbard, Steel, gold, silver, jade (nephrite), diamonds, emeralds, pearls, grip, Indian; guard, scabbard, and decoration on blade, Turkish; blade, Iranian
Saber with Scabbard
grip, Indian; guard, scabbard, and decoration on blade, Turkish; blade, Iranian
grip, 18th or 19th century; guard and scabbard, 19th century; blade, dated A.H. 1099/1688 CE; decoration on blade, 19th century
Saber, Steel, gold, fish skin, wood, Turkish, probably Istanbul
Saber
Turkish, probably Istanbul
1522–66

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

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.