SOLD Rare Antique 17th century Polish gold gilt brass belt formed of four rectangular and twelve hexagonal panels each made of two silver panels joined by a flower -shaped  More »

SOLD Rare Antique 17th century Polish gold gilt brass belt formed of four rectangular and twelve hexagonal panels each made of two silver panels joined by a flower -shaped rosette and decorated in repousse baroque foliage ornament set with the small crescent hanger for the dagger suspension. The hinged buckle is formed of two repousse segments fitted on the back with a hook and loop closure. REFERENCES: Similar examples of these rare belts described as 17th century Polish belts are in the collection of the Museum national in Krakow published in the book "Pasy metalowe Polskie i obce w zbiorach Muzeum Narodowego w Krakowie" By Kazimierz Buczkowski ,Bronislawa Marekowska . Also similar belts have been presented at the exhibition -Pasja Zbjerania Kolekcja Ryszarda Z.Janiaka" catalogue of the exhibits in “The Royal Castle in Warsaw,” A Passion for Collecting - The Collection of Ryszard Z.Janiak, in the Royal Castle in Warsaw 2007 and are published in the catalogue from the exhibition. CONDITION: The belt is in overall good condition. MEASUREMENTS: Length: 101 cm (39 3/4 in). ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

SOLD Antique late 18th century Polish cavalry saber. Details: A typical 18th century Polish "kosciuszk0wka" manner brass hilt with a knuckle guard refracted twice at right  More »

SOLD Antique late 18th century Polish cavalry saber. Details: A typical 18th century Polish "kosciuszk0wka" manner brass hilt with a knuckle guard refracted twice at right angles, including a pair of langets, and a faceted back-piece with an oval shaped cap pommel retaining its original ebony grip. A slightly curved single edged blade cut with a broad full-length fuller, double-edged towards the point. This particular model of hilt with many varieties, can be seen in Polish swords from the second half of the 18th century, and took its name "koÅ›ciuszkówka" from the general Tadeusz KoÅ›ciuszko (the same who is famous in the USA), who has a similar sabre in his hand on many portraits of him, as a leader of the Polish Insurrection against Russia (1794). MEASUREMENTS: Overall length: 90.8 cm (35 3/4 in). CONDITION: The sword is in good condition considering its age of over 200 years, except for some pitting to the blade, and minor chips to the ebony grip, otherwise in good condition. REFERENCES: 1. Historia Szabla Pisana, Czyli, Szable Znanych Polakow I I II Rzeczpospolitej by Dr Wlodzimierz Kwasniewicz. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

SOLD Antique 18th century Indo Persian shield Dhal made of translucent white rhinoceros hide, of circular convex form flattened at the rim the outer face fitted with four  More »

SOLD Antique 18th century Indo Persian shield Dhal made of translucent white rhinoceros hide, of circular convex form flattened at the rim the outer face fitted with four brass bosses in the form of stylized flowers with ring-bolts on the back for rope (to hold the shield). Diameter: 25.4cm (10 in). REFERENCES: A similar 18th century Indian shields is published in the “A Glossary of Arms and Armor” by George Cameron Stone. Page 208 .FIG.5. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

A large antique 18th century Islamic Indo Persian steel shield Separ – Dhal. Of circular convex form, etched over its entire surface with sixteen figures of Persian  More »

A large antique 18th century Islamic Indo Persian steel shield Separ – Dhal. Of circular convex form, etched over its entire surface with sixteen figures of Persian nobles, accompanied by lions on a foliate ground. The border adorned by eight oval cartouches containing Arabic calligraphic script, an extreme edge reinforced by an applied brass band. A centre set with four domed bosses, with bolts on the back for a rope (to hold the shield). MEASUREMENTS: Diameter: 48.5 cm (19 1/8 in). CONDITION: In very good condition. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

Rare Antique Turkish Ottoman sword Kilij with 17th century blade and 18th century solid silver mounts. DETAILS: A rare 17th century, or earlier, massive and broad curved  More »

Rare Antique Turkish Ottoman sword Kilij with 17th century blade and 18th century solid silver mounts. DETAILS: A rare 17th century, or earlier, massive and broad curved single edged Turkish blade of kilij form, cut on each side with a long shallow fuller and yelmen made of Damascus steel Wootz. A hilt comprised of a grip with Rhinoceros horn grip-scales, rising to a bulbous pommel in a characteristic Turkish Ottoman style, with a hole for the suspension tassel, bounded by pairs of silver washers, and enclosed by fluted silver straps, a silver crossguard with bud quillons. A leather-bound wooden scabbard stitched with spiral wire, and mounted with a large silver locket, a chape embossed and engraved on both sides with linear frame and foliage, and two bands with loops for suspension. One of the bands is stamped with Imperial Ottoman silver hallmarks tughra (probable of the Mahmud I (Sultan of the Ottoman Empire 1730 to 1754), but worn out, so it is uncertain) and a small square assay mark. This is a very rare early Turkish Ottoman blade, similar blades are in the collection of the Top Kapi Saray Museum, and are dated to the 16th -17th century. During the 18th - 19th century period time, most of the 16th -17th century old Turkish blades were remounted to the new fashion of mounting, with the Pistol shape hilt, so even in Turkish museums most of the ottoman swords have later mountings. This sword certainly has been remounted, due to the reinforcing metal zigzag band mounted on the ricasso of the blade under the crossguard. REFERENCES: Examples of almost identical ottoman blades dated to the 16th -17th century, and mounted in the 18th -19th century mountings, can be seen in the Topkapi Sarayi Museum Istanbul, and also in the Askeri Museum Istanbul Turkey, and other collections. REFERENCES 1) “Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths” by Unsal Yucel 2) “The Arts of the Muslim Knight – The Furusiyya Art Foundation Collection” by Bashir Mohamed CONDITION: Some age cracks in the horn scales, the silver mountings are worn with small dents. MEASUREMENTS: The overall length in the scabbard is approximately: 96.5 cm (38 in). The overall length without the scabbard is approximately: 94 cm (37 in). The length of the blade is approximately: 79.5 cm (31 1/4 in). The Turkish Ottoman kilij sword was mainly favored by the famous Turkish Ottoman elite cavalry Sipahi, but was also very admired by nobility of Balkan states, and Eastern European countries such as Hungary, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

SOLD Rare Antique 16th – 18th century Polish –Hungarian Horseman combat mace Buzdygan. DETAILS: A pear -shaped iron head formed of six sturdy flanges,  More »

SOLD Rare Antique 16th – 18th century Polish –Hungarian Horseman combat mace Buzdygan. DETAILS: A pear -shaped iron head formed of six sturdy flanges, decorated with lightly damascened silver scrollwork foliage, a domed central finial, on its original wooden haft covered with fabric, with a long tubular iron socket, and grip fitted with a single full-length iron strap between. REFERENCES: (1) An almost identical Buzdygan – Mace dated by museum experts to the 16th century is published in the Slovenian Museum catalogue, “Orožje Katalog Razstave Pokrajinski Muzej Celje” by Tatjana Badovinac, Janko Jeličić. Ministrstvo za kulturo Republike Slovenije, Mestna občina Celje. 2006. The buyer will be provided with a copy of the page from the mentioned catalogue together with a certificate of authenticity. (2) “Husaria: The Winged Horsemen” by Anna Wasilowska (3) “Stara Bron W Polskich Zbiorach: Zdzislaw Zygulski” The Buzdygan is a mace bared by a colonel as a symbol of rank, and a sign of the officer's authority, as the commander of the Polish, Hungarians, Russians, and Ukrainians, during the 16th-18th century, of many different varieties and styles used by the eastern European cavalry commanders. MEASUREMENTS: Overall length: 60 cm (23 5/8 in). Height of the iron head including socket: 19.5 cm (7 5/8 in). Length of the flanges approximately: 8.7 cm (3 1/2 in). CONDITION: In its original condition, no repairs or restorations whatsoever. Showing the age and usage with a dark patina, the silver inlay is partly worn, with black age oxidation, the fabric is with worn spots. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

SOLD Authentic antique 18th -19th century Islamic Indo Persian nobleman helmet Kulah-Khud. A hemi-spherical skull formed of one hand forged steel plate, with a stout  More »

SOLD Authentic antique 18th -19th century Islamic Indo Persian nobleman helmet Kulah-Khud. A hemi-spherical skull formed of one hand forged steel plate, with a stout mounted long spike at the top, a pair of plume-holders, a movable guard nasal flanked by two plume holders, retaining its original neck-defence camail of chain mail of rounded links. The skull is beautifully decorated over its entire surface with floral and creeper designs. The edge of the helmet is adorned by a broad band of eight cartouches containing script in Arabic calligraphy. MEASUREMENTS: Height from the top of the spike to the bottom of the mail: 47 cm (18.5 inches), Diameter: 19 cm (7 1/2 in). ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

SOLD A rare antique 18th century Persian gunpowder charging flask. Of superb quality made of hand forged Damascus steel Wootz, with a visible watered pattern, decorated with  More »

SOLD A rare antique 18th century Persian gunpowder charging flask. Of superb quality made of hand forged Damascus steel Wootz, with a visible watered pattern, decorated with pierced arrangements of apertures, the stopper shaped in the form of a bird. Fitted with two pierced loops for suspension, and adorned with three elaborately shaped and pierced hinged panels. CONDITION: In good condition in full working order. MEASUREMENTS: Across the overall length from the end of the mouth to the top approximately: 14 cm (5.3/4 in). Most of these types of gunpowder flasks are not made of Damascus steel Wootz, or as fine work as this example. REFERENCES: A similar gunpowder flask from the collection of the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, published in the book: "Persian and Indo-Persian Arms and Armor of the 16th-19th Century from the Polish Collection –Catalogue exhibition Malborg Castle Museum" by Antoni Romuald Chodinski, Page 378, Illustration No 264, but not as fine as this example. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

SOLD Antique 17th-18th century Islamic Composite War Bow Turkish Ottoman or Indo Persian. Of characteristic form with a rounded hand grip, painted on the exterior and  More »

SOLD Antique 17th-18th century Islamic Composite War Bow Turkish Ottoman or Indo Persian. Of characteristic form with a rounded hand grip, painted on the exterior and interior in black and red, bordered with gold bands, and adorned with painted in gold and green shaped panels. The process to make a composite bow was very long and complicated, different horn was used, wood, and sinew, and a correct balance between these different components provided a highly efficient bow, therefore composite bows were very expensive compared to other weapons. The composite bows were a powerful weapon of the Islamic, Tatar and Eastern European armies. These types of bows were made in Turkey and Persia from the 15th to the 18th century. Since bows were very expensive and would not go out of fashion or style, they were passed from father to son and were used by the next generations, so bows made in the 17th century were still used during the 18th century. CONDITION: The bow is in its original condition, chips in the lacquer surface, some losses to the paint, one edge is slightly split. Overall length: 77 .5 cm (30 1/2 in). REFERENCES: A similar bows are published in the book: “TÃœRK OKÇULUÄžU” (Ataturk Kultur Merkezi yayn) (Turkish Edition).Illustrations 150,151,152. We do not want to make a judgment if the bow is Turkish or Indo Persian, however we provide our clients with a certificate of authenticity to ensure that the bow is 100% authentic antique made in the 17th-18th century. There are three layers in the composite bows: sinew on the back (the side under tension), wood for the core and horn on the belly (the compression side facing the archer). Turkish and Indo Persian bowyers purchased green wood or bamboo. The parts were shaped and reflexed as needed, seasoned for about a year, fitted, joined with glue and dried for another year. Pre-shaped horn strips were glued onto the belly of a bow. Both wood and horn were scored with a special toothed tool and glued together (clamping was achieved by tight binding with rope). Matching pairs of water buffalo horns were used almost exclusively, with an exception of longhorn cattle horns for some Turkish bows. Cattle horns had to be boiled heated and pressed into a correct shape in special wooden molds. Buffalo horns are also more flexible and resilient than cattle horns and provide thicker strips. It is probable that in Indo Persian bows, instead of a solid strip, many thin ones were glued together into one wider strip. The back of a bow was then covered with sinew, leaving most of the ears/tips bare. Sinew usually came from cow leg tendons, possibly neck (back) tendons. Tendons from wild animals (deer, moose etc.) must have also been used, and, in the authors opinion, are better, leaner, stronger, longer and easier to work with. The dried tendon is pounded until separated into fibers, which are sorted into bundles of similar length. The bundles are soaked in glue and laid onto the back of a bow. 2-3 layers are used for a dry thickness of approx. 3-6mm. On Turkish flight bows a ridge along the centre of siyahs was formed to increase cast. Bows were always seasoned after this last operation from 6 months to at least a year .Due to shrinkage of sinew and glue (and from deliberate, progressive reflexing betw. layers of sinew in case of Turkish) bows were at this point very strongly reflexed with tips touching or even crossed. The reflex made the tillering and stringing, which followed, a rather long and complicated operation. Glue was an important component of the bows, the amount of glue in a finished bow was almost equal to the relative amounts of sinew or horn. Only three kinds of collagen-based glues were used: fish, tendon and skin. For the fish glue, either dry skin from "the roof of the mouth" of Danube sturgeon (Turkish, other fish for Chinese) or isinglass (sturgeon air bladder, Chinese) were soaked in water and heated into solution. The Turks mixed this glue with tendon glue, made from boiled tendons. A glue of lesser quality was made from boiled skins. Such glues readily absorb moisture rendering the bows useless in relative humidity above 70%. The bows had to be stored as dry as possible, kept by the fire, in the sun, or in heated cabinets. The tillering was accomplished by gradual bending a warmed bow with minimal scraping of the horn layer to balance the arms. The arms were also given the desired curvature and/or weight by warming and tying to special wooden forms until cooled. Turkish flight bows were heated in "conditioning boxes" for 24 hours up to 4 days before competitions to thoroughly dry them (the sinew, glue and horn acquire very high strength and elasticity when very dry). Of course, the bows were never shot when warm; heat, as well as moisture, would make them weak and follow the string. The finished bows were decorated with painted and gilded ornamentation. Wooden or horn "bridges" were glued on the belly side where the ears join the siyahs/knees as supports for string loops. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

SOLD A rare extremely well made antique 18th-19th century Filipino Muslim Moro Islamic armour. Composed of 68 rectangular thick kabau horn plates, each bordered with incised  More »

SOLD A rare extremely well made antique 18th-19th century Filipino Muslim Moro Islamic armour. Composed of 68 rectangular thick kabau horn plates, each bordered with incised lines, linked together by solid butted brass rings, brass chain mail with collar and short sleeves, open down the front, main breastplates with applied embossed silver decorative panels, in floral shapes, and decorative studs, held together by two pivoting pierced and engraved locking catches. REFERENCES: “A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor” by George Cameron Stone, Fig. 83. CONDITION: Three horn plates damaged, one of the silver studs is missing, the end of one of the floral silver panel scrolls is broken off. MEASUREMENTS: Overall length: 82.5 cm (32 1.2 in). Most Moro armour is not as well made, or of such fine quality, as this particular example. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES, AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less