A NIELLOED AND HORN-HILTED DAGGER
Possibly Caucasus or Western Ottoman Provinces, mid to late 19th century

With a double-edged gently curved steel blade, with a thick medial ridge on both sides, the tip reinforced, the handle made of two slabs of horn framed within nielloed silver bands with scrolling floral and vegetal sprays, the top of the handle engraved with a central roundel depicting a hunting dog attacking a wild boar, the scabbard lined with dark brown calf leather and enhanced with two pierced silver fittings with vegetal motifs, 31.5cm long including the scabbard.

Provenance: Purchased in 2011 from a UK auction house.