AN IVORY-HILTED POCKET KNIFE India, 18th - 19th century  The single-edged steel blade with thicker fuller, the spike ending in a curled design, the vegetal gold-damascened decoration on the blade and forte, the ivory handle with poetic inscription in Persian, the leather sheath with an iron hanging hoop at the top and small ivory bulb at the bottom, 23.5cm including sheath. Inscription: Out of sorrow because of you, I am driven to despair. This knife has reached my bones. The inscription quotes a famous couplet from a poetic composition by 'Urfi Shirazi, born in Shiraz and moved to India to work at the Mughal Emperor Akbar's court in 16th century. This item may require Export or CITES licences in order to leave the UK or the European Union. It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that lots have the relevant licences before shipping.