November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/3/2017
Curved Damascus steel diamond section blade, 18K gold hilt, front decorated with engraved scrolls, niello designs, flowers and the monogram of King Faisal II of Iraq. The opposite side is plain and engraved with Cyrillic signature translating to "Mohammed Ali" Sheath wrapped with solid 18 karat gold and decorated with panels of niello flowers and engraved scrolls, fitted with two gold ring mounts. Drag finial in the shape of a leaf. King Faisal was born in 1935 in Baghdad, Iraq and assumed the throne at age 18, as his father was killed in a car accident when he was young. Under his regime, Iraq resumed the British Alliance and joined the United Nations. After World War Two, he was educated at Harrow in Britain and graduated in 1952. He joined the Baghdad pact against the Soviets, and was the only Arab state to do so. In 1958, he was killed during a coup that overthrew the monarchy. After this, Iraq was established as a republic. Excellent condition with a few light storage marks and minor dents on sheath. Blade has some fading to Damascus. An historic item and beautiful example of Eastern work. CORRECTION: This item is 18k gold.