AN ENGRAVED STEEL AXE HEAD (TABARZIN)
Afghanistan, 19th century

Of typical shape, the steel single-edged blade of curved shape, with a crescentic cutting edge, engraved on both sides with animal hunting scenes in the centre, the edges engraved with rosette bands and split palmette trellis to the top, the butt engraved with a cusped calligraphic cartouche with an ownership inscription Saheb-e Shah Mohammad (Mahmud?) Durrani against vegetal and floral sprays, the owner possibly associated with the Pashto-speaking Durrani Empire (18th - 19th century), 13.4cm long.