Subject: beylerbey commander of sipahi knights
Culture: Ottoman Turk
Setting: mperial warfare, Ottoman empire 16-17thc
Object: hançer dagger
Metropolitan Museum of Art > Stone Gallery of Arms and Armor *
"Dagger Steel, damascened with gold Blade: Turkish, Ottoman period, mid-16th century Hilt and scabbard: European, 16th century
Near Eastern blades were highly valued in Europe, and many fine examples were exported and mounted with European hilts. In this example, the Ottoman blade has been fitted with a hilt and scabbard damascened with gold arabesques of oriental inspiration. The blade is inscribed in Persian (one of the languages of the Ottoman court): It is a dagger since it attempted [to take] the life of the unfaithful lover. My Turk took it [wrapped in gold] and bound it to his sash."
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Metropolitan Museum of Art > Stone Gallery of Arms and Armor *
"Dagger Steel, damascened with gold, silver-gilt, ivory Grip and blade: Turkish, Ottoman period, 16th century Guard: Turkish, Ottoman period, hallmarked for 1774-8 The green-stained ivory grip is carved with a delicacy that recalls many ivory objects made for the Ottoman court.
The blade is inscribed in Turkish and Persian (the languages used at the Ottoman court):
I besought a drink of water from your trenchant dagger, what if but once you should let me drink, what would you lose? If I thirst, his dagger is not laid down."
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