AUCTIONS IMPERIAL MAY 2021
Lot 224:
Description
A rare example of the artistry and skill of Tiflis masters. The grip carved of a single large section of elephant, the pommel a large, fully-modeled lion’s head with mane, eyes, ears, muzzle, teeth and tongue, all delineated in fine detail. The eyes set with rose cut diamonds with considerable fire, the head set with a square-cut garnet. The grip with silver cord wrap and silver gilt embroidered panels retained by silver plaques. The steel guard elaborately inlaid in gold, with fine trefoil vine borders and a cross at the center. The massive T-section blade fullered and chamfered at the yelman, or back edge, and wrought of the finely grained black wootz characteristic of Tiflis work. The forte at either side superbly inlaid with gold in spiral trefoil vine patterns, with the Imperial Russian doubleheaded eagle on the left and the monogram of Tsar Alexander III (r. 1881-1894) on the right, and signed on the spine, MASTER GEORG. In its velvet-covered wooden scabbard with iron suspension bands and large chape, each with trefoil vine borders inlaid with gold, each of the suspension bands with a cross to the center, the reverse with Cyrillic characters in gold, IMO, the second with 1883 and the Cyrillic character for G (year.) The chape likewise embellished with gold trefoil vine borders, and inscribed on the reverse, IVANE MAMUKAS DZE ORBELIANI In Georgian Mkhedruli characters, or as he was known in Russian, Ivan Makarovich Orbeliani.Dated 1883. Stable cracks and rubbing to grip, minor sharpening scratches to blade, velvet well worn. Prince Ivan Orbeliani (1844-1919) was born to one of the oldest princely families in Georgia. He led a distinguished military career in the Imperial Russian Army, and saw action against the mountaineers, the Ottomans during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, commanded the 2nd Caucasian Cossacks and the 2nd Brigade of Terek Cossacks, and led the 2nd Cossack Division during the Russo-Japanese War, among others. Overall length 108cm.
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