Description

A nice Balkan Ottoman dagger of a type called hançer (Turkish) or khanjar (Arabic), of Arabic inspired form. The wootz blade with pronounced center ridge section and a pattern of fine contrasting layers of steel in grey and silver. The silver handle is worked in high relief with traditional Ottoman flower designs. The scabbard, also entirely clad in silver, is decorated with bands of applied silver elements including engraved strips, bands of silver wire braid, and bands of separately applied elements. The end of the scabbard is wrapped in fine silver braid wire and terminates with an engraved finial. The scabbard is quite close to that of a dagger attributed to Prince Ioannes Karatzas (1760-1845).¹

Notes to text
1. See: Robert Elgood; The arms of Greece and her Balkan neighbours in the Ottoman period, Thames & Hudson, London, 2009. Page 253.