Sword (Shamshir) with Scabbard and Belt

Unknown

hilt, scabbard, and belt, early 19th century; blade, A.H. 1162/1748–49 CE · Steel, gold, ivory, wood, enamel, velvet, silver, textile · Arms and Armor

The hilt of this saber is mounted in enameled silver in a style associated with the north Indian city of Lucknow, in the Mughal province of Oudh. The blade of crucible (“watered”) steel is exceptionally rare, as it includes the name of the maker, Baqir Mashhadi, an Iranian swordsmith active in India, his patron, Safdar Jang Bahadur, an Iranian who ruled as nawab (governor) of Oudh from 1739 to 1754, and the date of its manufacture.

Artist

Unknown

Date

hilt, scabbard, and belt, early 19th century; blade, A.H. 1162/1748–49 CE

Medium

Steel, gold, ivory, wood, enamel, velvet, silver, textile

Culture

hilt, scabbard, and belt, Indian; blade, northern India

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935