Skip to main content
The Walters Art Museum

Online Collection

Explore the Art Collection keyboard_arrow_down close
  • Explore By...
  • Category
  • Date
  • Medium
  • Creator
  • Places
  • Museum Locations
The Walters Art Museum walters-logo-white
  • Calendar
  • Art
  • Shop
  • Give Now
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours
    • Directions & Parking
    • Food, Drink, & Shop
    • Free Admission
    • Tours
    • Accessibility
    • Visitor Promise
  • Experience
    • Virtual Museum
    • Exhibitions & Installations
    • Programs & Events
    • Collections
    • Buildings
    • Baltimore
  • Support
    • Support the Walters
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Institutional Funders
    • Evening at the Walters
    • Volunteers
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • Leadership
    • Strategic Plan
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • Research
    • Policies
Image for Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
Image for Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
Image for Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
Image for Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
Image for Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
Image for Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
  • arrow_forward_ios
  • arrow_forward_ios
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail
Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point Thumbnail

Sword ("Shamshir") with Double Point

Turkish (Artist)
Indian (Artist)
17th-18th century (Early Modern)
blade: steel, inlaid with gold; hilt: nephrite, set with rubies (or spinels)
(Islamic World , Arms and Armor )

Islamic swords with double blades or with a blade split in two at the tip, as on this example, were created in imitation of the sword obtained as war booty by the prophet Muhammad and subsequently carried by his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. The association is reinforced here by the square cartouches that contain inscriptions praising Muhammad, Ali, and their celebrated sword, known as "Dhu'l-Faqar." The inscription running along the blade is a verse from the Qur'an.

Inscription

[Translation] Along blade: Qur'an 2:255; [Translation] In square cartouches: There is no god but God. Muhammad is the Prophet of God.; [Translation] In oblong cartouches: In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. There is no hero except Ali and no sword except Dhu'l-Faqar.

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Conservation

Date Description Narrative
2/19/1963 Treatment coated
11/7/1978 Examination examined for condition
10/3/2001 Treatment cleaned
Share
  • social-item
  • social-item
  • social-item

Geographies

Turkey (Place of Origin)

Measurements

7 3/16 x 38 7/16 x 1 5/16 in. (18.2 x 97.7 x 3.3 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters

Location in Museum

Centre Street: Fourth Floor: Across Asia - Arts of Asia and the Islamic World

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

51.16

Do you have additional information?

Notify the curator

Hours

  • Wednesday—Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
  • Thursday: 1–8 p.m.
  • Monday—Tuesday: Closed

Location

600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD
21201

Phone

410-547-9000

  • Visit
  • Experience
  • What's On
  • About
  • Shop
  • Support The Walters
copyright

The Walters Art Museum

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Copyright Info
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twitter
modal close
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
  • arrow_forward_ios
  • arrow_forward_ios