A beautiful kindjal with Tzar Alexander III monogram Dating: last quarter of the 19th Century Provenance: Caucasia Straight, double-edged blade ribbed at the centre, engraved and gilt with the large monogram «AIII» for Alexander III (1881-1894) surmounted by the imperial crown, on a side, with a silver signature in Arabic on the other; typical, silver-plated hilt engraved and gilt with the crowned, double-headed eagle and floral motifs; the front grip scale decorated with the effigy of stars, circles and oval on enamelled blue ground, the rear one of silver, nielloed with inscription in Arabic, crowned, double-headed eagle and floral motifs; wooden scabbard with black leather covering, gilt silver mounts engraved with birds, snakes and floral motifs on granulated ground, three segments enamelled en suite wit the grip scale (chips and restorations); a band with a suspension ring. The front surface decorated with two open-works, nielloed silver mounts. See «Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour» by Robert Hales, page 107, n. 260. The enamelled decorations on the kindjal above are very similar to the one illustrated in the text, which is collocated in Georgia or Dagestan. Translation of the inscriptions. On the blade: Amal Hasan (work by Hasan), or also invocation (may he work well - referred to Tzar Alexander III). On the grip: Sahib Danil (the owner of our land) Amal Abd’al-Gazi (work by Abd-al Gazi). The name Danil could refer to Daniel of Moscow (first Prince of Moscow between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th Century, forefather of all the Grand Princes of Moscow). The kinjal could have been a gift offered by the Khan of a territory during the works for the construction of the construction of the Transcaspian railway to the Tzar Alexander III. Dimensions: length 49.4 cm.