Lot 141
- 141
An imperial Ottoman sword signed Hajji Sunghur, with scabbard, Turkey, late 15th/early 16th century with 18th century silver mounts bearing the tughra of Sultan Ahmed III (r.1703-30),
Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 GBP
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Description
- steel and metal and marine ivory
the gently-curved steel blade with flat edge and double-sided point, with gold overlay inscriptions running along one side and chiselled with split-palmette motif, the marine-ivory hilt with silver-gilt cross guard worked in repoussé with foliate motifs, the scabbard with gilt-lock and chape decorated with engraved and punched floral stems, two suspension rings
Condition
In fairly good condition, the blade with oxidisation, two minor quillons to hilt missing, the scabbard with torn and stained cloth, rubbing to gilding, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
The inscription in Arabic reads:
'Although it lies in the belly of the scabbard, the sword only accomplishes its duty when it is naked'
The letters “kāf, hāʼ, yāʼ, ʻayn, ṣād, hāʼ, mīm, ʻayn, sīn, qāf” appearing above the signature are khuruf al-muqatta’ (disjointed letters), representing inaugural devices which appear at the beginning of Qur’anic chapters.
One of the leading swordsmiths practising in the late fifteenth/early sixteenth century, al-Hajji Sunghur has had as many as forty fine swords attributed to his atelier. The current lot proves to be exceptionally rare in that it bares the maker’s insignia, making it one among only four extant swords with his signature overlaid on the blade. The other three are located in the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul (inv. no. 1/185, 1/384, 1/2567), with the first belonging to the last de facto Mamluk sultan, Qansuh al-Ghuri, and the second (dated 896 AH/1490 AD) and third (dated 912 AH/1506 AD) gifted to Sultan Bayezid II. Another blade of similar quality attributed to the master can be found in the Georgian National Museum.
The current blade is complimented by a finely crafted eighteenth-century hilt bearing the cipher of Ahmed III and en-suite scabbard, in concordance with many other blades currently in the Topkapi Armoury which were restored at later times. Ottoman records indicate that Sunghur gifted more than a dozen blades to Sultan Bayezid II at the turn of the sixteenth century, and the two latter blades in Topkapi suggest that this blade, similar in form and quality, may also have been intended as a gift for the Sultan.
Bibliography
Ü. Yücel, Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths, IRCICA, Istanbul, 2001.
B. Mohamed, The Arts of the Muslim Knight, Skira, 2007.
The inscription in Arabic reads:
'Although it lies in the belly of the scabbard, the sword only accomplishes its duty when it is naked'
The letters “kāf, hāʼ, yāʼ, ʻayn, ṣād, hāʼ, mīm, ʻayn, sīn, qāf” appearing above the signature are khuruf al-muqatta’ (disjointed letters), representing inaugural devices which appear at the beginning of Qur’anic chapters.
One of the leading swordsmiths practising in the late fifteenth/early sixteenth century, al-Hajji Sunghur has had as many as forty fine swords attributed to his atelier. The current lot proves to be exceptionally rare in that it bares the maker’s insignia, making it one among only four extant swords with his signature overlaid on the blade. The other three are located in the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul (inv. no. 1/185, 1/384, 1/2567), with the first belonging to the last de facto Mamluk sultan, Qansuh al-Ghuri, and the second (dated 896 AH/1490 AD) and third (dated 912 AH/1506 AD) gifted to Sultan Bayezid II. Another blade of similar quality attributed to the master can be found in the Georgian National Museum.
The current blade is complimented by a finely crafted eighteenth-century hilt bearing the cipher of Ahmed III and en-suite scabbard, in concordance with many other blades currently in the Topkapi Armoury which were restored at later times. Ottoman records indicate that Sunghur gifted more than a dozen blades to Sultan Bayezid II at the turn of the sixteenth century, and the two latter blades in Topkapi suggest that this blade, similar in form and quality, may also have been intended as a gift for the Sultan.
Bibliography
Ü. Yücel, Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths, IRCICA, Istanbul, 2001.
B. Mohamed, The Arts of the Muslim Knight, Skira, 2007.