Wootz Shamshir

[Jim McDougall]

That really does seem like an outstanding blade, and most unusually so for these type of Persian trade blades. I personally know little of metallurgy in these wootz patterns, but the examples of these 'Assad Adullah' blades I have seen are usually with channels or fullers, wider blade and typically of lesser quality wootz patterns.

According to the brilliant article by Oliver Pinchot, "The Persian Shamshir and the Signature of Assad Allah", ("Arms Collecting", The Journal of the Canadian Arms Collecting Society, Vol. 40, #4, Feb. 2002), these kinds of blades bearing a cartouche and a pictogram representing 'Assad Allah' (=Lion of God), began appearing late 18th and into 19th century.

This represented a marketing shift for Persian blades into varied markets, particularly to those in Arabia, where they were highly favored over others.
It is noted that among possible reasons for the continued use of the name of this famed sword smith of centuries earlier, one potentially feasible is a tradition recognizing Assad Allah and his contributions to Persian sword guild.
An exemption from taxes for 300 years said to have been granted by Shah Abbas (1567-1628) for the swordsmiths guild, may have prompted this commemorative use of the Assad Allah name.
Aside from this tradition, the imbuement of quality certainly was present as well.

It is noted also that the Kirk Narduban term was a transliteration from Turkish 'kirk' (= forty) and 'merdeven' (=steps/stairs) , while more commonly termed ' The Forty Steps of Mohammed'.

A very, very nice example of sayf Badawi!

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

Thank you for your replies. This large, heavy, plain blade fits the description of earlier made shamshir blades. If the Lion pictogram began appearing in the mid to Late 18th century, does this mean this sword was made then in the style of earlier blades, or was the Lion pictogram in use earlier than mid to late 18th century? Does anyone know of the earliest dated example with the lion pictogram?

Cheers,
Bryce

[ALEX]

Bryce,
I agree with you regarding the the blade being earlier form, 18th century is appropriate estimate. The lion cartouche is original to the blade. Absolutely magnificent shamshir with top quality beautiful wootz blade.

[Jim McDougall]

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]

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]

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]

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