Enrica Medugno
Senior Sale Coordinator
Lot 69
An Ottoman gilt-silver mounted steel sword (yataghan) made for Hüseyin Ağa, signed by el-Hacc Nuh Probably Foča, Turkey, dated AH 1217/ AD 1802-03
22 May 2025, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£3,000 - £5,000
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Oliver White
Head of Department
An Ottoman gilt-silver mounted steel sword (yataghan) made for Hüseyin Ağa, signed by el-Hacc Nuh
Probably Foča, Turkey, dated AH 1217/ AD 1802-03
Probably Foča, Turkey, dated AH 1217/ AD 1802-03
the slightly recurved single-edged blade with narrow fuller along the back to each side and decorated in silver inlay with vegetal and floral designs surrounding inscriptions, the forte with silver mount with applied silver diamonds, spheres and filigree decoration, set with a coral (corallium rubrum) to either side, the hilt with grip strap set with further coral (corallium rubrum) on filigree mounts interspersed by silver beads, the pommel with applied silver diamonds and filigree decoration in floral designs and set with coral (corallium rubrum), the wood scabbard clad in black leather with silver mounts, the locket with clustered beaded ropework in floral designs, the chape chased and decorated with floral and foliate designs with a makara head terminal
71.3 cm. long
71.3 cm. long
Footnotes
Provenance
The Richard R. Wagner Collection.
Bonhams, Eastern Arms and Armour from the Richard R. Wagner Jr Collection, 29 April 2015, lot 56.
Private UK collection.
Inscriptions: in Turkish, to one side, a Turkish couplet, bu bıçağın zarbından cümle düşman tar u mar, intikam alur aduvdan sanki misl-i zalfikar [sic], 'From this knife's blow the entire enemy is scattered, It takes revenge on the foe as if it were Zülfikar'; to the other side, sene 1217 'amel-i el-hacc nuh sahib hüseyin ağa, 'Year 1217 (1802-3). The work of el-Hacc Nuh, the owner Hüseyin Ağa', and a Turkish couplet, ey gönül bir can içün her cana minnet eyleme, işret-i dünya için sultana minnet eyleme, 'O heart! For the sake of one soul do not ingratiate yourself with all souls, For the sake of the pleasure of the world, do not ingratiate yourself with a sultan.'
A similar yataghan is in the Victoria & Albert Museum (inv. no. M.964-1928).