A fine 19th century Hispano Moresque dagger. Toledo, Spain.
This exquisite damascened silver and two tone gold inlaid dagger consists of a hilt, crossguard, blade and scabbard. External parts are similarly decorated with Hispano-Mauresque geometric designs including octagons and stylized crosses, subdivided into sections by the ever so popular Moorish slogan ولا غالب الا الله (there is no Conqueror save God). The handle is marked “TOLEDO.” The blade is finely etched and inlaid with an axial symmetrical design of interlaced geometric and floral patterns.
It is interesting to see how in the 19th C, Toledo craftsmen were eclectically using Moorish architectural influences (from the alHambra palace of Granada and the alCazar of Seville) without making them seem “forced” onto their designs. On the contrary, it appears as though this dagger as an example, was a copy of an earlier traditional model rather than a contemporary improvisation.