Kilij (sword)

CultureOttoman Turkish

Date1800s

Mediumcrucible steel, gold, brass, horn

Dimensions76.5 × 63 cm (30 1/8 × 24 13/16 in.), 1 lb, 10 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.289.1

DescriptionCurved, single-edged crucible steel blade, with a yalman (false edge) approximately 1/3 of blade length. Blade is of "T" section, with very strong, flat back for upper 2/3. Blade is in line with the hilt for upper half, then widens and curves relatively abruptly to the point. Yalman is offset by a deep incised line below it. This area and the back edge are cross-hatched in part and bear traces of false-damascening.

Near the hilt, both faces of the blade have an openwork lobated koftgari cartouche with trilobated terminals. Below this on the obverse, is another lobated cartouche filled with the names "Allah" and "Ali" in Arabic script.

The blade is secured by at least three flattened iron rivets and an organic filler to the hilt.

The guard is of brass (probably once gilt), with fairly long straight crossguards of hexagonal section, and terminating in necked, egg-shaped tips. At the center, both faces of the guard are extended above and below in narrow langets. This guard, although badly rubbed, retains traces of incised line decoration and floral motifs. The upper face of each cross has damage that suggests a piece of brass linking the guards to the brass backstrap and forestrap around the grip has been lost. Traces of a soldered repair remain.

The grip itself is of two side-pieces of horn, tapering upward and curving as it broadens into a ball-like terminal which is slightly curved downward. This is pierced through, and has a brass lining in a hole, evidently for a wrist strap.
Label TextThe Turks who established the Ottoman Empire during the late Middle Ages had originated in Central Asia, and had brought their traditional curved swords with them. The kilij is a characteristically Turkish style: unlike the slender Persian saber, it has a heavy tip, straightened out along the back edge. These menacing weapons were designed for power on the battlefield, and this elegant but simply decorated sword was probably the highly functional sidearm of a high-ranking Ottoman soldier.ProvenanceAngelo Peyron (Florence, Italy); purchased by the Museum on November 5, 1954 from Savoy Art and Auction Galleries (NYC), lot #577, sale #450. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014

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