A YATAGHAN SWORD WITH SCABBARD
Ottoman Turkey or Provinces, late 19th - early 20th century

With a broad single-edged, acid-etched steel blade, with a thick flattened spine, the acid-etched designs mirrored on both sides and depicting 'Ali's split-ended sword, the Zulfiqar, and hexagonal cartouches with auspicious blessings, the gilt copper alloy guard engraved with fretwork bands and a rosette in the centre, the green hardstone hilt carved with flowers and a lion's head as terminal, possibly the blade and the handle a later composite union, the scabbard lined in black leather and with gilt copper alloy fittings in the same style of the guard, 70cm long including the scabbard.