˜AN OTTOMAN BALKAN SILVER-MOUNTED SHORTSWORD (YATAGHAN)

˜AN OTTOMAN BALKAN SILVER-MOUNTED SHORTSWORD (YATAGHAN), MID-19TH CENTURY, with slightly curved single-edged blade cut with a slender fuller along the back-edge on each side, decorated with gold koftgari inscriptions in a shaped cartouche on one face and gold scrollwork panels on the other, silver hilt of characteristic form extending over the forte and decorated with beads and diamond-shaped panels within ropework frames, integral grip rising to a pronounced faceted eared pommel, decorated with beadwork and set with small pieces of coral in raised settings, in its wooden scabbard encased in silver chased with foliage, trophies and beadwork, with chape formed as a monsterhead and with a small suspension loop beneath the locket, 56.0 cm blade¦¦