with earlier curved blade (some old staining) double-edged along the back of the point in front of the yelman, the forte on one side gold-inlaid with a double carnation within a cartouche of double gold lines, a rectangular and a circular panel of calligraphy above each against a gold ground above, the former being one of the ninety-nine names of God ‘the owner of all sovereignty’ in thulth, the latter being the Bismillah in thulth, and surmounted by two further panels of arabesques against gold grounds and linked together by plain and beaded gold borders to form a hooked shape and enclosing a short gold inscription, the back of the blade on the same side with gold-encrusted hadith of the Prophet Mohammad regarding swords, silver-gilt mounted hilt comprising border engraved quillon-block with pointed langets and bud-shaped quillon terminals, reeded grip-strap, and rounded rhinoceros horn grip-scales, bound silver brocade ribbon, the pommel pierced for a tassel, in its black leather wood-lined scabbard with three silver wire seams along the inside, border engraved silver-gilt deep locket and chape (minor denting) decorated with foliage, the latter engraved 'Khalil al-Ghassal', probably an owner's name, border engraved suspension mounts each with suspension ring, complete with burgundy suspension cords with two padded velvet mounts each embroidered in silver threads with a flower-head, and retaining some of its gilding, 80.5 cm blade

Provenance

Property of the Marquess of Anglesey, removed from Plas Newydd, Anglesey