AUCTIONS IMPERIAL 2025 MAY
Lot 243:
Description
A massive saber typical of Khazar heavy cavalry use, showing rare, possibly unique, Viking decoration. Nordic seafaring merchants and warriors came into direct contact with the Khazar Empire during the ninth century. In times of peace, cultural exchange between the two cultures was not unusual. The blade is quite long and broad and very slightly curved, with pronounced central ridge and false edge, with its distinctive L-shaped reinforce with profiled edge intact at the forte. The steel hilt elements, comprising a peaked pommel, elongated guard, and profiled grip plate, are of unusual form for Khazar work. The method of embellishment, silver inlay, is likewise quite unusual and not typically found in the Khazar decorative palette. By contrast, Nordic silver inlay inclined toward large, curvilineal shapes which took careful account of negative space as well as negative image. Two Nordic motifs, the checkerboard and the chain motif, both appear on the grip plate. Broad, tapering bands of silver decorate the guard. Only the pommel bears a Caucasian motif, the sun disk, albeit executed in Nordic silver-inlay technique. Retains its upper scabbard mount of characteristic Khazar form decorated in Nordic line inlay work together with its matching buckle. 9th-early 10th century. Excavated. Grip mounts contemporary. As found. Ex-Egil Haggmann Collection, N.Y. 1974. Overall length 110.8cm/ 43 5/8 inches. Condition V
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