Dagger with Sheath

blade, Turkish; hilt and scabbard, European, possibly Italian

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 379

Near Eastern blades were valued highly in Europe, and many fine examples were exported and mounted with European hilts. In this example, the Ottoman blade has been fitted with a hilt and sheath damascened with gold arabesques of Middle Eastern inspiration. The blade is inscribed in Persian (one of the languages of the Ottoman court):
It is a dagger since it attempted [to take] the
life of the unfaithful lover.
My Turk took it [wrapped in gold] and
bound it to his sash.

Dagger with Sheath, Steel, iron, wood, leather, gold, blade, Turkish; hilt and scabbard, European, possibly Italian

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Dagger with Sheath, Steel, iron, wood, leather, gold, blade, Turkish; hilt and scabbard, European, possibly Italian
Dagger with Sheath, Steel, iron, wood, leather, gold, blade, Turkish; hilt and scabbard, European, possibly Italian
Dagger with Sheath, Steel, iron, wood, leather, gold, blade, Turkish; hilt and scabbard, European, possibly Italian
Dagger with Sheath, Steel, iron, wood, leather, gold, blade, Turkish; hilt and scabbard, European, possibly Italian
Dagger with Sheath, Steel, iron, wood, leather, gold, blade, Turkish; hilt and scabbard, European, possibly Italian
Dagger with Sheath, Steel, iron, wood, leather, gold, blade, Turkish; hilt and scabbard, European, possibly Italian

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