A Safavid chiselled and gold-overlaid steel saddle-axe, Persia, 18th Century

the steel head with a pierced central cartouche designed in openwork with scrolling palmettes, surrounded by chiselled decoration with gold overlay featuring wild animals in a natural setting and lions and leopards hunting deer along the blade and pommel edge, mounted on a wooden handle 

In overall good condition, some patination and loss of gold-inlay across axe-head consistent with age, wooden handle with slight weathering across surface, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

For an example of the openwork cartouche design found on a similar Safavid saddle-axe, please see Atil 1985, pp.200-202.

Further two interesting examples of ceremonial Safavid axes are illustrated in Islamic Arms and Armour from Private Danish Collections, Copenhagen, 1982, pp.122-125. The second example, no. 81, is closely comparable in terms of the shape of the axe-head and the configuration of the design.