A Persian Peshkabz for comment and help with translation

[GePi]

Hi,
I have another recently acquired piece to show, this time a Persian Peshkabz.

The blade is nice wootz with a not quite consistent ladder pattern. On the forte of the blade it shows a typical chiseled douple cartouche, but chiseled on the spine is a very interesting repeating pattern with scant remains of gold laid onto the background which must have looked spectacular with all the gold in place. The spine also has a small chiseled name at the forte which I believe says 'amal-e ali' and something after that which I cannot make out.

On the front strap chiseled is a simple vine pattern, also with a bit of remaining gold in the background.

Finally the backstrap has a lengthy high quality chiseled calligraphic inscription which wraps around to the pommel end, which I would love to have translated of course.

Thanks for looking!

[ariel]

I wouldn't hesitate to date it 18th or even earlier century.
Excellent! Santa came earlier than expected:-)

[David]

Not my area of collections, but that sure is pretty!

[Battara]

The chiseling is magnificent!

[ariel]

Both “cheeks” of the handle were made from secondary dentin. It means that the walrus tooth was extremely large and the master could afford using only the most esthetically pleasing part of it.
Consequently, the original buyer could afford paying a lot of money.
I am sure the new owner also paid through the nose, but it was worth every penny.

An exceedingly rare find, congratulations!

[mahratt]

Congratulations GePi! Beautiful pesh-kabz.
This is verse 255 of the second surah in the holy Quran, The Throne verse.
It is written in a very artistic calligraphy of thulth font.
Translation is:
"Allah! There is no god but He - the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him Nor Sleep. His are all things In the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede In His presence except As he permitteth? He knoweth What (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they encompass Aught of his knowledge Except as He willeth. His throne doth extend Over the heavens And on earth, and He feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them, For He is the Most High. The Supreme (in glory)."
[Surah al-Baqarah 2: 255]

[ariel]

Originally Posted by mahratt

"No slumber can seize Him Nor Sleep."
[Surah al-Baqarah 2: 255]

There are many stories and verses in the Koran influenced by the Bible. Here is one original:

“Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep”

Psalm 121.

[Drabant1701]

What an fantastic dagger! Thw wootz is beautiful, the chiseling superb and the walrus ivory just right. Congratulations!

[GePi]

Thanks for the replies everyone, especially Dima for the speedy translation! I am pretty chuffed with it, 18th century would be my guess as well.

It certainly was not cheap, what is in this area of collecting nowadays, but considering what I got, I consider it a bargain.

[Battara]

It also seems that there may have been some gold leaf, plating, or something in the recesses of the inscriptions.

[GePi]

Originally Posted by Battara

It also seems that there may have been some gold leaf, plating, or something in the recesses of the inscriptions.

It might look a bit like that in the pictures, probably a trick of the light because there is nothing there.
If you look closely you will see, that the background is polished smooth on the backstrap with the inscription, but is knurled on the spine and the frontstrap to help the gold to adhere. Didn't help unfortunately (I am pretty sure the gold was scraped out intentionally).

[francantolin]

Amazing antique piece in mint conditions !
Congratulations !
What are the dimensions ??

[ariel]

Is the last quarter of the blade bent sidewise?

[GePi]

Dimensions:
Full length 38 cm (including lanyard ring)
Blade length 26,5 cm
Weight 407g

So it is a decently sized specimen.

Also no sideways bend, just the angle of photography that catches the pronounced upwards curve near the tip.