Turkey (Ottoman Empire)

Three Ottoman Dagger Hilts with Deep-Relief Carved Ivory Scrollwork

2679

These artifacts belong to the late 15th century to the mid-16th century, specifically dated between 1475 and 1550 AD, corresponding to the classical expansion and formative golden age of the Ottoman Empire under Sultans Mehmed II, Bayezid II, Selim I, and Suleiman the Magnificent.

While fully functional as parts of deadly sidearms, these luxury dagger hilts served primarily as symbols of elite military rank, courtly status, and diplomatic prestige within the Ottoman military-administrative hierarchy, often traded or presented as diplomatic gifts.