A good quality Turkish Yataghan sword dating to 1817 (1233AH).The blade with panels of gold decoration in an excellent state of preservation, including a large cartouche of arabic calligraphy beside which is the Hejira date inlaid in gold. The hilt with grips of walrus ivory, the steel gripmounts decorated wholly with gold detailing again in wonderful condition, slight rubbing. The scabbard with deeply chiselled silver mounts to the top and bottom, the central section retaining its original green velvet fabric covering (very worn). One grip has some repair with some infill near the bottom of the ear, some cracking to the silver mounts, overall in very solid and sound condition. A most attractive and unusually early sword from Ottoman Turkey. Middle east