A Very Posh Indo-Persian Kandshar Dagger From the Estate of T.E. Lawrence

Czerny’s International Auction House, Sarzana, Italy, Fine & Scarce Antique Arms & Armor Sale, 26 March 2016, Lot 574.

Estimated Price: €7,000 – €8,500

A very interesting rock crystal hilted kandshar from the property of Lawrence of Arabia

dating: mid-19th Century

Curved, double-edged blade with a raiser made of fine, wootz damask at the centre (areas of rust); rock crystal grip (sliver near the quillon).

Kept in a wooden case covered with black, gilt-hemmed paper, lined with light-blue silk and bue velvet, the cover featuring a label with the writing “Jambia/Rock Crystal Hilt – Property of T. E. Lawrence/Clouds Hill – Lawrence of Arabia – Purchased S. W. Cottee & Son Wareham Dorset”.The lieutenant colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence (Tremadog, 16th August 1888 — Wareham, 19th May 1935) was a British intelligence agent, a military officer, archaeologist and writer, mostly known as Lawrence of Arabia; he was renowned for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt at the beginning of XX Century.

Sale: S. W. Cottee & Son (known today as “Cottees”);

Sale: Dix Noonan & Webb, 19/09/03 lot 1024;

Stratford Armouries Museum at Warwick.