A LONG NASRID-REVIVAL SWORD WITH ELEPHANT-SHAPED QUILLONS
Possibly Southern Spain, late 19th - early 20th century

A LONG NASRID-REVIVAL SWORD WITH ELEPHANT-SHAPED QUILLONS
Possibly Southern Spain, late 19th - early 20th century

With a straight double-edged steel blade with a central shallow fuller, the forte engraved on both sides with stylised inscriptions in free-flowing cursive Arabic calligraphy reading part of the declaration of faith (shahada), the rest pseudo-calligraphy, the hilt inspired by 15th-century Nasrid examples with the typical onion-shaped pommel and bud-like finial at the top, a convex grip, and large downturned quillons, in this specific case shaped as two elephants' heads with long trunks, the acid-etched decoration on the hilt consisting of stylised heart-shaped arabesque palmettes, intricate strapwork, vegetal meanders, and square cartouches in-filled with rosettes, 99cm long.