with 16th century slightly curved crucible steel blade widening to a double-edged point and with a fine watered pattern throughout, chased gilt and nielloed silver hilt comprising guard of characteristic form with straight quillons with moulded bud-shaped terminals, decorated over its surface with a spray of differing flowers and foliage against a matted ground (one small crack at the top of one langet), back-strap decorated with a running pattern of foliage and flowers en suite, and polished horn grip retained by three rivets over silver foliate washers, carved with pairs of chevron lines and widening to a shaped terminal, in its leather-covered wooden scabbard, the leather embossed in imitation of shagreen (small wrinkles beneath the locket), with large silver chape, locket and a pair of bands with suspension rings, all decorated en suite with the hilt, the locket and chape each struck with a tughra, the upper suspension ring with a zig-zag inspection mark, and remaining in fine condition throughout, 78.2 cm blade

This karabela survives in notably fine condition and was possibly part of the booty taken during the Turkish Wars of the second half of the 17th century. Viewed alongside the distinguished Türkenbeute now preserved in Vienna, Karlsruhe and Dresden the present karabela may be classified among the higher quality examples. See Schuckelt 2010, pp. 265-266, nos. 241-243.