Ottoman Turkey
16th century
watered steel blade, with gold-damascened decoration; silver collar; bone handle
32cm (length)
This knife was intended not for use but for personal adornment, and the decoration of the blade is accordingly rich. The upper part bears spiral scrolls and split palmettes reserved on a plain gold ground, while the rest of the blade has a delicate tracery of chinoiserie florets.
J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.411, p.346–7.