A Rare Ottoman Solid Gold-Mounted Sword (Kilij) And Scabbard, Turkey, 19th Century

the slightly curved slender steel blade expanding towards the tip with ridges to the flat edge, solid gold hilt quillons and rhino horn hilt, leather covered wooden scabbard with finely engraved solid gold ensuite chape and lock, scabbard with attached cord and ivory collects ion label inscribed "Presentation Sword to Admiral Dundas"

Formerly in the possession of Admiral Sir James Whitley Deans Dundas (1785-1862)

overall in good condition. blade suffers patination due to age. solid gold chape and lock have some abrasions. fabric cord worn, as viewed.
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Remembered as a brave and chivalrous officer, James Whitley Deans Dundas began his naval career with expeditions to Holland (1799), Gibralter and Egypt (1800) before serving as Midshipman at the blockade of Alexandria aboard H.M.S. Kent. He was promoted to lieutenant aboard the Cambrian in 1805 before being given command of the Rosamund in 1806. He was injured by a shell explosion in a Copenhagen dockyard whilst trying to extinguish a fire that had broken out after the surrender of the city. Following many years service in the Baltic and North Seas as well as the Mediterranean, Dundas was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral in 1841, and then Vice-Admiral in 1852. When the Russian war broke out in 1854, Dundas had chief Naval command of the operations, including the transport of the army to the Crimea and the engagement with the sea-forts during the Siege of Sevastopol on 17th October of that year.

Dundas gained the rank of full Admiral in 1857 after having been awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and the Medjidie of the first class two years previously. He died in October 1862. His portrait by W.J. Edwards hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG D11141).