An important kilij with jade hilt dating: 19th Century provenance: India Extraordinary, curved, single-edged blade In damask, with central fuller next to the back, starting from a chiselled and gilded lily, chiselled and partially gilded 'T'-back, the last part toward the tip with grooves and raisers next to the back, engraved and gilded at the girdle. Right side finely engraved with arabesques on a grained and gilded ground, with cartouches with inscriptions in Arabic, gilded as well, the opposite part with a cartouche with inscriptions and floral decorations at the base. Inscriptions recite verses from the Koran, such as 'Bismillah ar-Rahman r Rahim', 'Saif ala Sulfiqar' and 'Ala ali (ra)'. hilt with quillon and langets in gilded silver, finely engraved with floral motifs in bass-relief, with 'S'-quillons pierced at the ends. Jade grip, chiselled with a horse's head at the pommel and decorated with floral motifs in bass-relief at the base. Remains of wooden, leather-covered scabbard, with seams in metallic thread. All the mounts are missing (maybe taken for their value, because most likely they were in gold). dimensions 98.4 cm.