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A Fine And Rare Medieval Sword From The Mamluk Arsenal At Alexandria image 1

A Fine And Rare Medieval Sword From The Mamluk Arsenal At Alexandria image 2

Lot 109

A Fine And Rare Medieval Sword From The Mamluk Arsenal At Alexandria
Mid-14th Century, Probably Italian

Antique Arms and Armour

11 May 2016, 13:00 BST

London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £12,500 inc. premium

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A Fine And Rare Medieval Sword From The Mamluk Arsenal At Alexandria
Mid-14th Century, Probably Italian

With tapering double-edged blade with rounded point and cut with a shallow central gutter-shaped fuller over two thirds of its length on both sides, the fuller on one side incised '.PVIC.', and '.LOPC.' on the other, an incised indistinct Arabic inscription on the same side at the forte, hilt comprising straight quillons of rectangular section, flat tapering tang with small central rivet, and compressed cubic pommel of octagonal section (some pitting overall)
69.8 cm. blade, 84.9 cm. overall

Footnotes

Provenance
Peter Finer catalogue 2001, no. 4

The Arabic inscription cannot be fully deciphered and appears to include the word Alexandria

Possibly one of a group of swords which are thought to have been presented under treaty by the Lusignan King of Cyprus to the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt Malik Mu'ayyad Abu'l Nasr Shaikh who reigned from 1412 to 1421, or captured in 1425 during the invasion of Cyprus by troops of the Mamluk Sultan Al Ashraf Sayf al-Din Barsbay

For more information see E. Combe and A.F.C. de Cosson, 'European Swords with Arabic Inscriptions from the Armoury of Alexandria', Bulletin de la Société Royale d'Archèologie d'Alexandrie, n.s. IX (1937), pp. 233f., no. III; David Oliver, 'Some European Knightly Swords from the Arsenal of Alexandria', The Sixteenth Park Lane Arms Fair Guide, 1999, pp. 13-24; Clive Thomas, 'A Distinctive Group of Swords from the Arsenal of Alexandria', ibid, 2003, pp. 29-44; idem, 'The Medieval Swords of Leeds Castle', ibid, 2005, pp. 10-29; Stuart W. Pyhrr, 'The Ottoman Arsenal in Hagia Eirene: Some Early Photographs and Visitors' Accounts', ibid, 2007, pp. 29-46; Clive Thomas, '"Father of Victory" Pious donations of European swords to The Arsenal of Alexandria during the reign of the Sultan al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh', ibid, 2008, pp. 17-38; idem, 'Notes on a small group of swords from the Arsenal of Alexandria', ibid, 2009, pp. 23-42; and idem, '"King of Emirs" Pious donations of European swords to the Arsenal of Alexandria during the time of the Viceroy Sayf al-din Aristay', ibid, 2011, pp. 15-36

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