A Persian Kard
Late 18th/Early 19th Century
With sharply tapering single-edged blade of finely watered wootz steel signed 'The work of Muhammad Rahim' in gold-inlaid nasta'liq' on one side, the back of the blade with three finely chiselled converging lines along its entire length interrupted by three shaped gold-inlaid panels at the forte, the forte on each side with a shaped gold-inlaid panel containing foliage inhabited by two deer attacked by a lion on one side, and on the other with two heron, one attacked by a hawk, steel hilt with punched-in basal mount encrusted with gold foliage en suite inhabited by waterfowl, and with a hare on each side , grip encrusted with running gold foliage inhabited along the top by two lions, two deer and a bird, and rounded walrus-ivory grips, in its wooden scabbard covered in black leather (worn, the top repaired during its working life) with a double row of silver studs around the throat, and later silver chape (terminal missing)
21.8 cm. blade
