Late 17th Century

Isfahan

 Length 27Cm, Width 3Cm

The density of the main rectangular panel is formed with rich etched “Qur’anic inscriptions effected with cartouches and arabesques on the back pointer, and etched knopped handle and a hinged finial of delicate scrolling arabesques with the dragon-heads looking outwards.

44 of Surah Ghafir.
So you will remember what I say to you, and I entrust my affair to God, for God sees the servants Verse 44 of Surah Ghafir.

This is an extremely elegant example of the shape. The interlaced arabesques on the handle are, in particular, beautifully handled. A later example is in the Parviz Tanavoli Collections. James W. Allan, Persian Steel, Oxford, 2000, no.I,3, pp.328 and 330). The note to that entry gives details of two other examples. One is signed by Khura and is in the Benaki Museum; the other is signed by Rafi’ al-Din Muhammad, formerly in the Harari Collections.

Comes with a certificate from the Art Loss Register