Enrica Medugno
Senior Sale Coordinator
Lot 134
A gold koftgari steel sword (tulwar) bearing the name of Muhammad 'Ali of Egypt (reg. 1805-1848) probably Deccan, India, 19th Century
22 May 2025, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£15,000 - £20,000
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Oliver White
Head of Department
A gold koftgari steel sword (tulwar) bearing the name of Muhammad 'Ali of Egypt (reg. 1805-1848)
probably Deccan, India, 19th Century
probably Deccan, India, 19th Century
the single-edged steel blade of curving form with two chiselled fullers running along the top edge to each side, one side with chiselled lines to forte, the forte to both sides decorated in gold overlay with an inscription-filled cartouche surrounded by vegetal interlace and further bands of inscription, the gold-overlaid steel hilt of typical form, with further bands of inscription and inscription-filled cartouches interspersed by floral motifs, all on a ground of floral and foliate interlace
88.5 cm. long
88.5 cm. long
Footnotes
Inscriptions: the nada 'ali quatrain; Qur'an, chapter LXI (al-saff), part of verse 13, an invocation to God and the name Muhammad 'Ali Bashir (sic) [Pasha?], governor of Egypt.
A gauntlet sword from the Deccan in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, bears similar gold overlaid inscriptions (object number 36.25.1538).
Muhammad 'Ali Pasha, often considered the founder of modern Egypt, ruled from 1805 to 1848. Originally an Ottoman officer of Albanian origin, he rose to power during a period of political instability and was appointed as the Ottoman governor of Egypt. Over time, he established a hereditary monarchy and implemented sweeping reforms that modernized Egypt's military, economy, and infrastructure. His ambitious efforts laid the foundation for Egypt's transformation into a powerful and semi-independent state within the Ottoman Empire.