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Saber

blade, 18th–19th century; guard and decoration on blade, 19th century; grip, 18th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 379
Swords are appropriated through the recycling of materials and as spoils of war. Therefore it is no surprise that this sword has a precious Mughal grip made of black jade and a gold Ottoman guard that reads in naskhi script: "Sultan son of Sultan son of Sultan son of Suleiman Khan"; and on the back: "the name of God most compassionate and merciful." Although the name of an Ottoman sultan appears on the guard, it is not an indication of the provenance of the sword.

Islamic devotional inscriptions dominate the decorative motifs of arms and armor. Efficacious prayers protect the soldier from the evils of war. The inscriptions on the elegant steel blade indicate the sword's talismanic function. In square kufic script, the inscriptions state the proclamation of faith along with the valuable Qur'anic Throne verse (2:255), all damascened in gold. The back of the blade, in gold, is stamped with the Seal of Solomon (a six-pointed star) and various cartouches invoking the name of God.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saber
  • Date: blade, 18th–19th century; guard and decoration on blade, 19th century; grip, 18th century
  • Culture: blade, possibly Iranian; guard and decoration on blade, Turkish; grip, Indian
  • Medium: Steel, jade (nephrite), gold
  • Dimensions: L. 36 5/8 in. (93 cm); L. of blade 30 5/8 in. (77.7 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 1 oz. (935.5 g)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
  • Object Number: 36.25.1293
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
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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
Dagger with Scabbard, Steel, iron, gold, rubies, emeralds, glass, wood, textile, Indian, Mughal
Dagger with Scabbard
Indian, Mughal
1605–27
Saber, Steel, jade (nephrite), gold, copper, diamond, Turkish
Saber
Turkish
Grip and guard, second half of the 17th century; blade, late 18th–19th century
Armor of Mail and Plate, Steel, iron, copper alloy, textile, Indian, Sindh (now Pakistan)
Armor of Mail and Plate
Indian, Sindh (now Pakistan)
late 18th–first half of the 19th century
Saber, Steel, gold, fish skin, wood, Turkish, probably Istanbul
Saber
Turkish, probably Istanbul
1522–66

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