A Balkan Silver-Mounted Shamshir
Mid-19th Century
With curved watered single-edged blade, hilt comprising border engraved quillon-block with central floret on each side, bluntly-pointed langets and bud-shaped quillon terminals, silver grip-strap, and rounded rhinoceros horn grips with bevelled edges and each secured by two dome-headed silver nails, the pommel with silver-lined piercing for a sword-knot, in original wooden scabbard partly covered in black leather with deep silver locket and chape embossed and chased with rocailles, scrolls and foliage involving trophies of arms and buildings, the former with two fixed rings on each side, suspension mounts linked on either side by a silver strap pierced with trelliswork, and two rings for suspension
80.5 cm. blade