art-of-swords:Mamluk AxeDated: 1495-1499Culture: Egyptian-SyrianOwner: Sultan Kait Bey (Al-Ashraf Sa
art-of-swords:Mamluk AxeDated: 1495-1499Culture: Egyptian-SyrianOwner: Sultan Kait Bey (Al-Ashraf Sayf ad-Din Qa'it Bay), Mamluk Sultan of Egypt (1468 - 1495)Medium: iron, goldMeasurements: overall length 98.6 cm; width 20.5 cmThis is the weapon of a bodyguard of the Sultan Muhammad Ibn Qa'it Bay (Kait Bey), from the Caucasian-turks of the Mamluk period. In the very district cartridge on the axe head stands the following inscription “The Sultan, the victorious king, the father of happiness, Muhammad Ibn Qait Bay, his help may be glorified.” The rectangular four-edged socket is inscribed five times (gilded) with the following inscription “Muhammad” in Quadratkufi (Arabic calligraphy).Source: Copyright © 2016 Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna -- source link