Ottoman Dagger In Damask, Coral And Turquoise – Trabzon, Black Sea, 18th Century.

Damascus steel (wootz) blade, finely decorated in gold damascening bearing the complete Islamic profession of faith (shahāda) distributed on its two sides: "Lā ilāha illā Allāh, Muḥammad rasūl Allāh" ("There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah"). Silver mount and scabbard, entirely set with red coral cabochons, all finely striated longitudinally, alternating with turquoise beads. The decoration is organized in radiating rosettes and horizontal registers, according to a symmetrical and sumptuous composition. Side A: chiseled decoration in openwork silver with scrolls, palmettes and stylized foliage. Side B: Full setting of striated corals and turquoise. Exceptional state of preservation. Origin: Trabzon region (Black Sea coast, Ottoman Turkey). Very similar examples are in the Topkapi Museum (Istanbul) and the Victoria & Albert Museum (London)