Antique Bahraini Arabian Gold Mounted Saif Sword

A classic Arabian peninsula saif mounted in gold with an exceptionally long wootz blade in superb condition.

These classic Arabian swords are associated with the tribal royalty of the House of Saud and the other royal houses of the Arabian peninsular coast such as the Bahraini royal family. They have a classically known form, which this sword represents as an apex of the form. Often found with low quality European blades and, if mounted in gold, often poorly worked gold sheet, this example distinguishes itself by the quality of the gold work and the wootz, or watered steel, blade.

The gold work on this example is of the finest workmanship to be found on an Arabian saif, with all of the decorative techniques used in Arabian work especially visible on the "Baddawi" style hilt, including the most delicate filigree, the use of gold drops, scrolling geometric motifs, and roundels. The cross-guard with a central floral element and bud-form quillons entirely covered in gold. The single-strand gold chain running between the pommel and the outer quillon, while the leather-covered wooden scabbard, in the "Jofi" style, is mounted with a gold metal lock, chape and suspension loops, all decorated with palm-tree designs, geometric patterns, and arabesques.

The distinguishing element of Arabian peninsular swords, often referred to as Saudi saifs, is the 'Agrab, or the stylized decorative scorpion on the chape, with the mandibles of the scorpion lying on either side of the langet. In addition, these swords are distinguished by the scabbard chape being decorated with a diamond-like decoration all over the length ending with a loop and a triangle shape.

The finest of these swords were often presentation gifts to dignitaries. For example, a sword with a very similar scabbard and near identical style gold decorated handle is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It was presented to Lord Athlone in 1938 by Shaikh Isa of Bahrain (Acc. Nr. M.294&A-1976), see the front cover of Robert Elgood's book Arms and Armor of Arabia. Interestingly, Lord Athlone during that same visit received a gold saif from King Ibn Saud (presumably of the finest Saudi workmanship from that period), and it has a distinctly different style of handle, not of the same level of quality as the Bahrain sword, also in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and illustrated by Elgood (Acc. Nr. M.293&A-1976).

The form of the handle with the gold roundels and the carpetry of filigree on the sword presented by Shaikh Isa are of nearly directly identical quality and similarity to this sword, and indicate that it is of Bahraini origin, instead of Saudi origin.

References:
Elgood. R (1994) The Arms and Armour of Arabia, Aldershot, 1994