A royal sabre of Khedive Isma'il Pasha presented by Sultan Abdulaziz, Egypt, the blade dated 8 J[umada al-Akhar], 1309 AH/9 January 1892 AD

VAT reduced rateUK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Estimate

30,000 - 40,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

the Egyptian style gold hilt profusely decorated with chased, engraved and pierced designs, bearing the crowned royal arms on the front of the cross guard; set with a low-arched, grooved, watered steel blade, decorated with Quranic verses in damascened gold, an inscription-filled cartouche, crowned royal arms, and dated; the leather-covered wooden scabbard with gold metal stitching and three gold fittings, chased and engraved with foliate motifs, bearing a coat of arms at the centre, with gold trimmed belt and buckle with coat of arms, with garnet-red velvet covered case

93cm. length with scabbard

inscriptions

On the blade:

Qur'an, chapter XLVII (Muhammad), v.7,11; chapter LXII (al-Saff), v.13

hadith

'And know that Paradise is under the shades of swords'

8 j sana 1309

‘8 J[umada al-Akhar], year 1309 (9 January 1892)’

This impressive sword was presented by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz (r.1861-76) to his cousin Isma’il Pasha. Also known as Ismail the Magnificent, Isma’il Pasha was the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan from 1863 to 1879. He was granted a firman by Sultan Abdulaziz for the use of the title of ‘Khedive’ in place of ‘Wali’ (Governor) and for the title to be passed down to his direct descendants. He was succeeded by his son, Muhammad Tawfiq Pasha, and subsequently his grandson, Abbas Hilmi II, who served as the last Khedive of Egypt and Sudan.

For a diamond-set ceremonial sword belonging to Muhammad Tawfiq Pasha in the present sale, see lot 241. For a British sabre belonging to Abbas Hilmi II, see lot 242.

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