Category Archives: oriental arms

archery, Chinese and Tibetan swords and weapons, Chinese arms and armour, chinese swords, oriental arms, qing weapons arms and armour, South East Asian weapons

Qin Chinese recurved Bow with arrows

A Chinese Manchu recurved or compound bow from the 19th century. Still strung with its original silk cord bowstring, and retaining two original arrows. Chinese compound bows  such as this were made for military use and carefully constructed with techniques going back hundreds of years. The black horn tip of this example is carved with a makers signature to denote the quality of the workmanship. The siyahs or bow tips are covered with white rayskin, the front of the bow arms with strips of coloured bark, the back of the arms are broad strips of black horn, Between the inner and outer face is a sinew core which gives the bow its powerful elastic pull. the grip is wrapped with cork. The two arrows which accomany it are good examples, one has damage where the tip beneath the head is split with a little broken off, and one part of the nock missing. Both arrows retain most of their flight feathers. The bow itself is in reasonable condition, one bone string rest is lacking, and some loss to the bark outer covering in places, and general age wear to parts. This bow was brought back as booty from Beijing by a German soldier (the great grandfather of the previous owner ) fighting in the Boxer Rebellion during the 1900/1901 period. 

 

 

caucasian swords and weapons, oriental arms, Persian arms and armour

Persian or Caucasian sword with Laddered Wootz blade

A Persian shamshir sword. The blade of this sword is big and heavy and likely to date to the 17th or early 18th century. Signed at the top with a lion cartouche and a panel of arabic with the maker Assad Allah inlaid with gold. The wootz steel blade of this sword is very fine and clear and display the rare pattern ‘Kirk Narduban’ the ladder of the prophet or ‘Mohammed’s ladder’ which displays as a regular banded pattern along the blade.  The crossguard is of steel with some silver overlaid decoration, horn and silver grips with silver panels and a silvered steel pommel. Circa 1700

Coming soon to Ashoka Arts Fine Antique Arms and Armour Swords and Weapons, dhas, oriental arms, South East Asian weapons, Thai and Burmese Dha Swords

Antique long sword Dha from Thailand 19th century

A long two handed Dha sword from Thailand, fully mounted in silver. The handle with an engraved silver covered grip, banded either side with filigree silver wire and terminating in a bud pommel. Fluted collar leading to the blade, which is gently curved. Collection number painted at base of blade. The scabbard with panels of engraved floral scrolling allover. 19th century.

silver dha sword from thailand

oriental arms, Persian arms and armour, qing weapons arms and armour

Fine Tabar Axe from Persia Central Asia Samarkand with silver mounts and Chinese Jade archers ring 18th century

A fine and interesting early Persian or Central Asian War Axe  Tabar or ‘Tabarzin’.  This piece is significant in its weight and size, the steel axehead itself is deeply decorated in relief with scenes of a mounted warrior amongst animals and trees, presumably made from wootz steel. The mounting of the axe is most unusual, below the head is a fine quality Chinese archers ring of Jade, which appears to be early Qing Dynasty in date. The top and bottom shaft mounts are of thick silver, exquisitely chiselled with geometric borders and flowers, suggesting a Central Asian Uzbek or Bukharan origin. The shaft itself is unusually carved in a  series of spirals which adds a most dramatic appearance to the piece.

asian arms and armour, Coming soon to Ashoka Arts Fine Antique Arms and Armour Swords and Weapons, Indo-Persian swords, oriental arms, Persian arms and armour, persian damascus spearhead, turkish arms and armour, weapons

Gold damascened Persian lancehead

  • Fine Persian lancehead wootz steel and gold damascened shaft. The blade of good wootz steel raised central rib. Lower mounts finely decorated with gold, the shaft chamfered. 19th century. 48 cms

     

     

 

archery, asian arms and armour, oriental arms, Persian arms and armour, persian jarid set with throwing dart and scabbard, turkish arms and armour, weapons

rare Persian Jarids darts or javelin in sheath or case with goldwork

Set of Persian Jarid darts or throwing javelins in scabbard. The darts of steel twisted decoration and traces of engraving and gold detail, the scabbard of greenish leather sewn to reverse. Steel mounts with traces of engraved decoration with patterns of goldwork. Some minor damage to wood, only two darts present. 19th century. Rare item, 81 cms in sheath, 74 cms long darts

 

 

antique Arab and islamic arms and armour, Coming soon to Ashoka Arts Fine Antique Arms and Armour Swords and Weapons, oriental arms, turkish arms and armour, weapons

TURKISH OTTOMAN SILVER GILT MACE weapon

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Rare and fine Ottoman mace with gilt-silver mounts. The head with multiple flanges pierced and decorated with scrolling decoration. The shaft covered in fine black hide and seam sewn with gilt metal wire thread. 17th/early 18th century. 64 cms, as used at Siege of Vienna, very fine war example

 

 

asian arms and armour, balkan and ottoman guns, Coming soon to Ashoka Arts Fine Antique Arms and Armour Swords and Weapons, North African and Islamic swords and weapons, oriental arms, turkish arms and armour

A pair of Ottoman Balkan silver horsemans pistols completely covered with silver filigree work and set with stones

A very nice and collectible pair of 18th century Flintlock holster pistols, from the Ottoman Empire probably made in Bosnia, around Sarajevo in the Balkans by a master gunsmith. The stocks are wholly covered with very fine pure silver filigree wire decoration in scrolls and panels. The handles and breech region are further set with decorative red stones. Fine steel work locks beautifully engraved, the barrel is also chiselled and engraved with some characters and writing. Weapons of this quality were important throughout the Islamic world as indicators of status and fashion as well as functioning items for self defense. These would have been worn either in a double holster attached to a horses saddle, or stuck through a wide waist sash or belt which was typically Turkish and Balkan.

turkish pistols ashoka arts
super quality pair of silver turkish flintlock pistols

turkish balkan silver gilt filigree pair of holster pistols (3)

turkish balkan silver gilt filigree pair of holster pistols (5)

turkish balkan silver gilt filigree pair of holster pistols (7)

turkish balkan silver gilt filigree pair of holster pistols (10)

turkish balkan silver gilt filigree pair of holster pistols (11)

Coming soon to Ashoka Arts Fine Antique Arms and Armour Swords and Weapons, European arms and armour, guns and firearms, oriental arms, turkish arms and armour

Antique Ottoman Balkan Miquelet lock musket ‘Boyliya’ with gold and fabric

A beautiful Ottoman Balkan ‘Boyliya’ gun or musket surviving in superb condition. This longgun is clearly a high quality piece and would have belonged to a man of some rank or standing, the piece is decorated profusely throughout and retains both its embroidered fabric cover to the stock and its original tassel ornament.

The stock is covered entirely with metal finely chiselled with designs having gold elements highlighted to create a stunning visual effect.Multiple silver cappucine bands holding the barrel to the stock, again very finely chiselled. The steel barrel of fine quality, fluted to the top section with chiselled banded decoration and some engraved writing? along its top. The lock of miquelet turkish form in good working condition and retaining its original flint, the faces applied with engraved brass, and the top edge set with three coral stones. The sleeve to the butt is of velvet embroidered in ‘boteh’ designs in metallic silver/gold thread, the tassels made from coloured silks. The fabric pad covering still remaining to the actual butt to provide a comfortable hold when firing. The gun also has its steel ramrod, and gilt brass fixings to take a strap to one side.

 

 

A rare opportunity to find such a complete example in excellent condition, circa 1800. 153 cms long approximately. The Balkans at this period were and had been under Ottoman Turkish control for many years, this style of gun, while very similar to the Turkish types is typically found in the Western Balkan regions and was probably used by a specific ethnic group.  Middle east

Chinese arms and armour, Coming soon to Ashoka Arts Fine Antique Arms and Armour Swords and Weapons, helmets and armour, oriental arms

Rare Qing Sino-Tibetan Iron Military Helmet Chinese helmet with Tibetan style silver and gold decoration

Rare Chinese Qing or ‘Manchu’ Military helmet of steel, blackened iron with silver and gold Tibetan style decoration, Very good old provenance. Dating to the 17th or early 18th century