Wootz Shamshir

Jim McDougall · 22nd November 2017, 03:20 PM

Bryce,
With regard to your original question,
The lion pictogram is a stylized version of the Sun and Lion (Shir O Khorshid)which is an early symbol of Iran from about 12th century. It derives from old Babylonian astrology, the sun in the house of Leo, and became representative of Shia Islam. I am not theologically versed to explain the further dynamics, however, the Sun and Lion became the national emblem of the Qajar Dynasty (1794-1925). The attached image is the Pahlavi version of the symbol.

As I previously mentioned, Oliver Pinchot describes the use of this stylized lion pictograph well in his most important article, " ON THE PERSIAN SHAMSHIR AND THE SIGNATURE OF ASSAD ALLAH", ("Arms Collecting", Vol. 40, #1, Feb, 2002):

"....the remarkable popularity of Assad Allah blades during the Qajar era, throughout Persia, the Near East and Central Asia, then was the result of careful exploitation of an established name.
Despite the reduced quality of the product, clear marketing in a form which was readily recognizable ( i.e. THROUGH THE USE OF THE LION PICTOGRAM) proved especially effective, particularly among the illiterate.
The quality of Assad Allah blades produced during the Qajar era also reflected the supplanting of edged weapons by repeating firearms, and the dissipation of the quasi-mystical reverence in which swords had been formerly held.
In regions where the sword remained an important spiritual device and primary weapon, as among the Bedouin Arab discussed above, the demand for Persian blades remained consistently high".

The fact that this blade is heavier, and the apparent high quality of the Kirk Narduban steel, seems to suggest an earlier example using this well known pictogram, if what I am considering is correct. This does not mean that the blade has to correspond to the beginning of the Qajar dynasty (1794) as this was simply the era in which the use of this device became popular. The pictogram itself was a stylized version of the symbol long used in Iran, and may well have predated the Qajar adoption of the sun and lion.

The examples of blades I have seen with this pictogram usually have multiple channels , and though heavy, do not have the sweeping radius of the shamshir form as seen here. I have considered them probably first quarter of 19th century+.

Again, very nice example which may reflect earlier use of the Qajar pictogram with the Assad Allah signature, which in effect, seems to have become a kind of brand which paralleled the running wolf and name of Andrea Ferara in the European parlance.

In much the same manner regarding the Andrea Ferara name, on Assad Allah, L.A. Mayer ("Islamic Armourers and Their Work", 1962, p.26), notes him as one of the finest smiths, but most elusive and mysterious. Also that no contemporary chronicle mentions him as a living being and there are no historical details about his life or work.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 22nd November 2017, 04:06 PM

The entire document by Oliver Pinchot is online at

http://auctionsimperial.com/om-the-p...lah/?locale=en

and is a brilliant rendition; as noted by Jim.

Oliver Pinchot · 22nd November 2017, 04:54 PM

Well-observed, Jim and Ibrahiim. It is a handsome blade, congrats Bryce.

In this case, the likeliest explanation is that a blade dating from the late 17th-early 18th century was embellished with the cartouches containing the name and titles of Shah Abbas and the shir ve khorshid or Persian Lion and Sun during the late 18th or early 19th century. This would have been done to increase the value of the blade (and prestige of the owner.)

Period writers, notably British diplomat Sir William Ouseley, mention the considerable increase in value the Assad Allah signature could confer in Qajar-era Persia. See footnote 43 in the paper Ibrahiim kindly linked for the complete citation.

kronckew · 22nd November 2017, 07:50 PM

So that's what the triple fullers on mine are for .

swishing!

Bryce · 22nd November 2017, 11:38 PM

G'day Guys,

The spine of the blade at the hilt is about 7mm wide and appears to have a forging flaw that has been filled with another metal. From what I have read on other posts, this seems common with these blades. If the smith was skilled enough to ensure there were no flaws in the face of the blade, why did they leave open forge lines on the spine? Was it because it doesn't effect the structural integrity of the blade, so wasn't considered a problem?

Cheers,
Bryce

Bryce · 23rd November 2017, 02:13 AM

Sorry Guys,
I just had another thought regarding the open forging line on the blade spine. The smith obviously wasn't happy with it and that is why he filled it in. If most/all? nicely patterned shamshirs of this period have this feature, then the only reasonable explanation is that it is an unavoidable result of the low temperature forging technique used to make blades with this wootz pattern?

Can anyone answer this for me?

Cheers,
Bryce

Bryce · 27th November 2017, 10:58 PM

G'day Guys,

I am still trying to decipher the lion pictogram. I understand that the "face-like" object over the lion's back most likely represents the sun, but does it also contain a stylized and partially inverted rendering of "Assad allah"?

Cheers,
Bryce

ariel · 28th November 2017, 04:55 AM

The cleanest wootz was at the bottom part of the ingot, the dirtiest with a lot of slag- at the top. The smith partially cut and bent the ingot to use the clean part for the edge and the sides, with the lower quality part of it forming the inner core of the blade. The long “crack” on the spine is the seam of that bending. It is usually filled with brass or silver wire. It is not a forging flaw, it is a hallmark of a wootz blade.

22nd November 2017, 07:50 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	So that's what the triple fullers on mine are for . swishing! Attached Images

22nd November 2017, 11:38 PM	#5
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 188	G'day Guys, The spine of the blade at the hilt is about 7mm wide and appears to have a forging flaw that has been filled with another metal. From what I have read on other posts, this seems common with these blades. If the smith was skilled enough to ensure there were no flaws in the face of the blade, why did they leave open forge lines on the spine? Was it because it doesn't effect the structural integrity of the blade, so wasn't considered a problem? Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

27th November 2017, 10:58 PM	#7
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 188	G'day Guys, I am still trying to decipher the lion pictogram. I understand that the "face-like" object over the lion's back most likely represents the sun, but does it also contain a stylized and partially inverted rendering of "Assad allah"? Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

22nd November 2017, 03:20 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	Bryce, With regard to your original question, The lion pictogram is a stylized version of the Sun and Lion (Shir O Khorshid)which is an early symbol of Iran from about 12th century. It derives from old Babylonian astrology, the sun in the house of Leo, and became representative of Shia Islam. I am not theologically versed to explain the further dynamics, however, the Sun and Lion became the national emblem of the Qajar Dynasty (1794-1925). The attached image is the Pahlavi version of the symbol. As I previously mentioned, Oliver Pinchot describes the use of this stylized lion pictograph well in his most important article, " ON THE PERSIAN SHAMSHIR AND THE SIGNATURE OF ASSAD ALLAH", ("Arms Collecting", Vol. 40, #1, Feb, 2002): "....the remarkable popularity of Assad Allah blades during the Qajar era, throughout Persia, the Near East and Central Asia, then was the result of careful exploitation of an established name. Despite the reduced quality of the product, clear marketing in a form which was readily recognizable ( i.e. THROUGH THE USE OF THE LION PICTOGRAM) proved especially effective, particularly among the illiterate. The quality of Assad Allah blades produced during the Qajar era also reflected the supplanting of edged weapons by repeating firearms, and the dissipation of the quasi-mystical reverence in which swords had been formerly held. In regions where the sword remained an important spiritual device and primary weapon, as among the Bedouin Arab discussed above, the demand for Persian blades remained consistently high". The fact that this blade is heavier, and the apparent high quality of the Kirk Narduban steel, seems to suggest an earlier example using this well known pictogram, if what I am considering is correct. This does not mean that the blade has to correspond to the beginning of the Qajar dynasty (1794) as this was simply the era in which the use of this device became popular. The pictogram itself was a stylized version of the symbol long used in Iran, and may well have predated the Qajar adoption of the sun and lion. The examples of blades I have seen with this pictogram usually have multiple channels , and though heavy, do not have the sweeping radius of the shamshir form as seen here. I have considered them probably first quarter of 19th century+. Again, very nice example which may reflect earlier use of the Qajar pictogram with the Assad Allah signature, which in effect, seems to have become a kind of brand which paralleled the running wolf and name of Andrea Ferara in the European parlance. In much the same manner regarding the Andrea Ferara name, on Assad Allah, L.A. Mayer ("Islamic Armourers and Their Work", 1962, p.26), notes him as one of the finest smiths, but most elusive and mysterious. Also that no contemporary chronicle mentions him as a living being and there are no historical details about his life or work. Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 22nd November 2017 at 03:55 PM.

22nd November 2017, 04:06 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	The entire document by Oliver Pinchot is online at http://auctionsimperial.com/om-the-p...lah/?locale=en and is a brilliant rendition; as noted by Jim.

22nd November 2017, 04:54 PM	#3
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 464	Well-observed, Jim and Ibrahiim. It is a handsome blade, congrats Bryce. In this case, the likeliest explanation is that a blade dating from the late 17th-early 18th century was embellished with the cartouches containing the name and titles of Shah Abbas and the shir ve khorshid or Persian Lion and Sun during the late 18th or early 19th century. This would have been done to increase the value of the blade (and prestige of the owner.) Period writers, notably British diplomat Sir William Ouseley, mention the considerable increase in value the Assad Allah signature could confer in Qajar-era Persia. See footnote 43 in the paper Ibrahiim kindly linked for the complete citation.

23rd November 2017, 02:13 AM	#6
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 188	Sorry Guys, I just had another thought regarding the open forging line on the blade spine. The smith obviously wasn't happy with it and that is why he filled it in. If most/all? nicely patterned shamshirs of this period have this feature, then the only reasonable explanation is that it is an unavoidable result of the low temperature forging technique used to make blades with this wootz pattern? Can anyone answer this for me? Cheers, Bryce

28th November 2017, 04:55 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The cleanest wootz was at the bottom part of the ingot, the dirtiest with a lot of slag- at the top. The smith partially cut and bent the ingot to use the clean part for the edge and the sides, with the lower quality part of it forming the inner core of the blade. The long “crack” on the spine is the seam of that bending. It is usually filled with brass or silver wire. It is not a forging flaw, it is a hallmark of a wootz blade.