AssadUllah Cartouche/Stamp

ariel · 31st December 2007, 02:35 AM

The wootz looks Shams-y to me, ie the lowest denomonation. Fiegel excluded Assadullah's authorship in cases of Kirk Narduban merely "lacking complexity". This one does not look like a work of "the best master ". Also, the markings are somewhat crude. Good blade, no doubt, and I would love to have it, but not to the highest standard.
There are hundreds of blades signed with Assadullah's and Kalbali's names: they commanded higher prices. I think this is one of them.
Again, no insult meant.

ward · 31st December 2007, 02:54 AM

Would be very surprised if thats a dog on the sword instead of a lion. I travel a lot in Muslim countries havent been in Iran so not for sure but dogs are considered unclean in every traditional Islamic country.
Check out dogs in Islam on google theres alot out there on this
Ward

Jim McDougall · 31st December 2007, 05:03 AM

For the benefit of those not familiar with Oliver Pinchot's outstanding article, it is:
"The Persian Shamshir and the Signature of Assad Allah", which appeared in "Arms Collecting" (the journal of the Canadian Arms Collecting Society) in Vol. 40, #1 , February, 2002.

This shamshir appears to me to be Indian, with the flueret shape on the langet which seems stylized after the familiar affectation on tulwar langets and as far as I know do not typically appear on Bedouin saifs. This is not to say that this was not produced in India to be exported to Arabia as it is well established that this trade was quite typical.

The clear imitation of the lion in cartouche would of course be intended to suggest the higher quality of the blade and appeal to the Bedouin, whose preference for Persian blades and swords was well known. I agree that the poor representation of the lion would still be intended as such, and the points in the circle around the cartouche associate with solar symbolism on Indian tulwar hilts in the pommel in many of the pommel dishes.

All best regards,
Jim

31st December 2007, 02:35 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The wootz looks Shams-y to me, ie the lowest denomonation. Fiegel excluded Assadullah's authorship in cases of Kirk Narduban merely "lacking complexity". This one does not look like a work of "the best master ". Also, the markings are somewhat crude. Good blade, no doubt, and I would love to have it, but not to the highest standard. There are hundreds of blades signed with Assadullah's and Kalbali's names: they commanded higher prices. I think this is one of them. Again, no insult meant.

31st December 2007, 02:54 AM	#2
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Would be very surprised if thats a dog on the sword instead of a lion. I travel a lot in Muslim countries havent been in Iran so not for sure but dogs are considered unclean in every traditional Islamic country. Check out dogs in Islam on google theres alot out there on this Ward

31st December 2007, 05:03 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	For the benefit of those not familiar with Oliver Pinchot's outstanding article, it is: "The Persian Shamshir and the Signature of Assad Allah", which appeared in "Arms Collecting" (the journal of the Canadian Arms Collecting Society) in Vol. 40, #1 , February, 2002. This shamshir appears to me to be Indian, with the flueret shape on the langet which seems stylized after the familiar affectation on tulwar langets and as far as I know do not typically appear on Bedouin saifs. This is not to say that this was not produced in India to be exported to Arabia as it is well established that this trade was quite typical. The clear imitation of the lion in cartouche would of course be intended to suggest the higher quality of the blade and appeal to the Bedouin, whose preference for Persian blades and swords was well known. I agree that the poor representation of the lion would still be intended as such, and the points in the circle around the cartouche associate with solar symbolism on Indian tulwar hilts in the pommel in many of the pommel dishes. All best regards, Jim