A fine watered steel dagger (kard) with marine ivory hilt, Persia, dated A.H.1190/A.D.1776-7

the straight blade of finely watered steel with the distinctive 'Muhammad's ladder' pattern, chiselled around the forte and along the back edge with split-palmette scrolls, a gold-inlaid inscription on one side of the blade, the steel hilt with en suite chiselled decoration, marine ivory grips

inscription

Signed as: 'Work of Muhammad 1190 (AD 1776-7)'

A similar example sold in these rooms, 15 October 2003, lot 80. Further related examples are in the Khalili Collection (Alexander 1992, no.83) and in a private collection in Germany (Hamburg 1993, p.196, no.135). For a discussion of Safavid steel kards, see Allan and Gilmour 2000, p.146-153.