Fine 17th C. Persian Safavid Shamshir with rare spatulate crossguard

A rare example of a Persian shamshir. This example dates to the 17th- early 18th C. It is mounted with exceptional wootz blade of dark deep contrast with a darkened hardened edge. The cartouche is beautifully inlaid of fine quality.

The fittings are all original and in very fine condition displaying their original koftgari decoration. The crossguard is of a very rarely encountered type described as spatulate type, one of the example of which can be seen in Splendeur des Armes Orientale, the 1988 exhibition catalogue of the Howard Ricketts collection. Other examples can be seen in Arms and Armor of Iran.

Overall length is 38, blade is 32 long.