**A PERSIAN SWORD (SHAMSHIR), 19TH CENTURY with curved etched watered steel blade double-edged for the last quarter and decorated along the secondary edge with a panel of gold-encrusted scrollwork, cut with a long fuller on each side, the front filled with a lengthy gold calligraphic inscription, with two further calligraphic panels toward the forte, and each side with a panel of gold scrollwork, iron hilt comprising cross-guard decorated with gold and silver koftgari, cap pommel en suite, a pair of horn grip-scales studded with minute brass nails and retained by three pairs of rivets with fluted conical washers, in a wooden scabbard covered with tooled leather over raised designs, large locket (spring-catch missing) and chape each decorated en suite with the hilt (cleaned, restorations) 82cm; 32 1/4in blade The two bands across the blade read: ya malik al-mamalik najjana min al-mahalik (O Possessor of Realms He saved us from dangers), and the long inscription on the blade is the basmala and Qur'an 3 (Al 'Imran), verse 103.