Middle East, Metalwork. Steel, the blade engraved with hunting scenes and decorated with gold damascening, the hilt in the form of a gilt animal's head, Iran, 19th century; Islamic arms and armour. Inter-departmental transfer to MES, RF 2011/1170.

Steel axe head, the blade engraved with hunting scenes and decorated with gold damascening, the hilt in the form of a gilt animal's head

This saddle-axe was purchased by Robert Murdoch Smith from the art-dealer Nasrullah Dellal, in Tehran in 1873. In his first bulk acquisition for the South Kensington Museum (today the V&A), Murdoch Smith had bought "a considerable collection" of over 100 examples of metalwork, ceramic, inlaid woodwork and textile from different local sources, including French diplomat Emile Charles Bernay and four art-dealers including Nasrullah Dellal, Abu'l-Hassan Dellal, Abdul-Husayn and Reza Kashi of Tehran. Many further acquisitions followed in the years 1873-1878 and 1883-1885, most extensively from the French art-dealerJules Richard, long resident in Iran.

489-1874