"Gold & Damascus Steel – The Ottoman Art of Bladesmithing" Exhibition

Tatyana Dianova · 7th October 2024, 10:48 AM

I have visited yesterday a wonderful exhibition in Coburg, Germany "Gold & Damascus Steel – The Ottoman Art of Bladesmithing". The presented swords and daggers are the real masterpieces of Ottoman art. One can see the unique early blades from 15-16 centuries alongside with beautiful blades from the sultan's workshops.
There is an absolutely great catalogue of the exhibition, with all the pieces which were photographed in detail and described, alongside with new insights on Wootz production and blade decoration. I would recommend to study the catalogue before going to the exhibition, to understand and enjoy it more fully.

Tatyana Dianova · 7th October 2024, 10:49 AM

More photos

Tatyana Dianova · 7th October 2024, 10:50 AM

Photos

Tatyana Dianova · 7th October 2024, 10:51 AM

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Tatyana Dianova · 7th October 2024, 10:51 AM

The last two

A. G. Maisey · 7th October 2024, 12:34 PM

Superb.

Thank you.

Kurt · 12th October 2024, 04:43 PM

Great recommendation and write-up. It truly is a unique exhibition, well worth visiting, and I second the advice to acquire and read the catalog beforehand. It is a rare opportunity to see a private collection of this caliber and so well represented.
But it will only be open until the third of November, so time is running out.

Here is a close up shot of one of the rare pieces a friend of mine made on his visit.

- Kurt

gp · 12th October 2024, 07:03 PM

Beautuful exhibition and very nice book, although a minor point concerning the bibliography in the book : too much references to auction guides and auction houses / sales rooms compared to the number of actual literature on the cold weapons itself with regards to history and such by scolars and musea.
Nothing wrong with these from a visualisation perspective but lesser from a background historical "learning" perspective ☺

Pendita65 · 12th October 2024, 07:16 PM

Thank you,

an amazing collection at the exhibition thanks for sharing.

Regards, Martin

TVV · 25th October 2024, 12:00 AM

I finally received the catalogue and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Ottoman (or in my case, North African) blades. It is more than reasonably priced (the book itself, shipping to the US is another issue) for the scope and quality of the edition. The descriptions to the individual objects are very thorough, almost small essays in themselves.

7th October 2024, 10:48 AM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 701	"Gold & Damascus Steel – The Ottoman Art of Bladesmithing" Exhibition I have visited yesterday a wonderful exhibition in Coburg, Germany "Gold & Damascus Steel – The Ottoman Art of Bladesmithing". The presented swords and daggers are the real masterpieces of Ottoman art. One can see the unique early blades from 15-16 centuries alongside with beautiful blades from the sultan's workshops. There is an absolutely great catalogue of the exhibition, with all the pieces which were photographed in detail and described, alongside with new insights on Wootz production and blade decoration. I would recommend to study the catalogue before going to the exhibition, to understand and enjoy it more fully. Attached Images

7th October 2024, 10:49 AM	#2
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 701	More photos Attached Images

7th October 2024, 10:50 AM	#3
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 701	Photos Attached Images

7th October 2024, 10:51 AM	#4
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 701	More Attached Images

7th October 2024, 10:51 AM	#5
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 701	The last two Attached Images

7th October 2024, 12:34 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,897	Superb. Thank you.

12th October 2024, 04:43 PM	#7
Kurt Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 196	Great recommendation and write-up. It truly is a unique exhibition, well worth visiting, and I second the advice to acquire and read the catalog beforehand. It is a rare opportunity to see a private collection of this caliber and so well represented. But it will only be open until the third of November, so time is running out. Here is a close up shot of one of the rare pieces a friend of mine made on his visit. - Kurt Attached Images

12th October 2024, 07:03 PM	#8
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 726	Beautuful exhibition and very nice book, although a minor point concerning the bibliography in the book : too much references to auction guides and auction houses / sales rooms compared to the number of actual literature on the cold weapons itself with regards to history and such by scolars and musea. Nothing wrong with these from a visualisation perspective but lesser from a background historical "learning" perspective ☺ Last edited by gp; 12th October 2024 at 07:14 PM.

12th October 2024, 07:16 PM	#9
Pendita65 Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 99	Thank you, an amazing collection at the exhibition thanks for sharing. Regards, Martin

25th October 2024, 12:00 AM	#10
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,625	I finally received the catalogue and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Ottoman (or in my case, North African) blades. It is more than reasonably priced (the book itself, shipping to the US is another issue) for the scope and quality of the edition. The descriptions to the individual objects are very thorough, almost small essays in themselves.