Sword (Yatagan) with Scabbard

Cretan or Southwest Greek; blade, Balkan

Early 19th century (inscribed with a date assumed to include an error: A.H. 1124 / 1712 CE)

Not on view

This yatagan belongs to a group of similar swords made in the same region, and possibly the same workshop. Typically, their blades include inscriptions dating them between the 1780s and the 1820s. Blades were imported from the Balkans and later mounted with hilts in Crete or Greece.

The blade of this yatagan presents an unexpected inscription in Arabic, specifying the date as ١١٢٤ (A.H.1124, corresponding to 1712 CE), which is considered too early for a sword of this type. It is assumed that the engraver made an error, and that the date was intended to read ١٢٢٤ (A.H. 1224 / 1810–11 CE). To support this view, this sword may be compared with several similar yatagans thought to be from the same workshop that are dated A.H. 1224 and A.H. 1225.

In addition to the inscription on the blade, the silversmith who made the hilt in Greece or Crete (likely a different person from the blade's engraver), copied the date from the blade and inscribed it on the hilt four times. In doing so, they copied what is believed to be the mistaken date. It is unclear if the artist who made and inscribed the hilt was able to decipher the original blade inscription, or if they copied it without being able to read or understand it.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: Sword (Yatagan) with Scabbard
Date: Early 19th century (inscribed with a date assumed to include an error: A.H. 1124 / 1712 CE)
Geography: Crete
Culture: Cretan or Southwest Greek; blade, Balkan
Medium: Steel, silver, niello, gold, wood
Dimensions: H. with scabbard 28 in. (71.1 cm); H. without scabbard 26 1/2 in. (67.3 cm); W. 2 in. (5.1 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 3.1 oz. (541.5 g); Wt. of scabbard 1 lb. 2.1 oz. (513.1 g)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
Object Number: 36.25.1336a, b
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Primer, Silver, copper alloy, Greek — Primer
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Saber and Dart with Scabbard, Steel, silver, gold, wood, leather, copper-silver alloy (niello), Mounts and scabbard, Turkish; blade, European — Saber and Dart with Scabbard
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