Lot 403

IRAK SILVER DAGGER WITH ANCIENT MOTIFS

Iraq, probably Baghdad, 20th century. A traditional Iraqi dagger, typical of a certain region of the Middle East. Were it not for the very specific combination of solid silver, nickel silver, and brass, which undoubtedly places the dagger in Iraq, it could also be attributed to Jordan or the Bedouin regions of southern and eastern Syria. This type of dagger, mostly known as "al-shabriya," is often mistakenly attributed to the Caucasus region and sometimes even referred to as an Ottoman weapon. In some parts of Iraqi society, various examples were given as gifts to boys as they slowly became men. This example is in excellent condition, approximately 35 cm long and weighing approximately 220 g, depicting traditional Iraqi motifs such as the Sumerian ziggurat or the Babylonian lion.