3) Qame with bronze blade
Ostad Haj Hossein Farajian casts a number of bronze blades, such as an Achaemenian akenakes and an Egyptian kopesh. Although qames with bronze blades do not have a historical provenance, I would like to introduce this qame made by Ostad Haj Hossein Farajian as it is truly a piece of art. The blade is cast from bronze and is chiseled in beautiful inscriptions in Persian. On the obverse side of the blade, there is the following inscription in Persian:
In tigh ke shire falakash nakhjir ast Shamshir Vakil an Shah keshvargir ast. Peivaste kelid fath darad dar dast An dast ke bar qabzeye in shamshir ast.
This sword which [is meant] to hunt the celestial lion, is the shamshir of the Vakhil, the king who conquers countries. He will always keep the key to victory in his hand [only if] one holds the handle of this shamshir in his hand.
Note that the above inscriptions are the same that are gold inlaid on the steel blades of the two shamshirs of Karim Khan Zand (one is kept in the Military Museum of Tehran, and the other in Pars Museum in Shiraz; see Moshtagh Khorasani, 2006:492-494, Cat 122, Cat. 123). Note that Vakil (representative) is the title that was used by Karim Khan Zand. Further inscriptions on the obverse side are taken from the nohekhani (mourning for Imam Hossein) during Moharram or the taziye (Shiite passion ceremony).
Ruz Ashura Goft An Shah Teshne Kaman in Chenin Sar be rah dust dadan bahr man doshvar nist
Teshneam man teshneye adl va azadegi Var na dar man zarei az teshnegi asar nist
On the day of Ashura, the thirsty king [referring to Imam Hossein] said, “Sacrificing oneself for one’s friend is not difficult; [yes,] I am thirsty [but] thirsty for justice and freedom. Otherwise, I am not thirsty at all).”
Close to the forte of the blade, there are engraved inscriptions in Arabic: Yadollahi fogho Aydahum (There is no hand above God’s hand). On the reverse side of the blade, there are the following engraved inscriptions in Persian:
Dush Ahmad zad gadam botha shekast az hame Ali Sakht viran kofr ra az amr-e hag andam Ali
(Yesterday, Ahmad broke the idols with the help of Ali, and he destroyed the blasphemy for the justice of Ali)
Anke az tigash separ afkand jebreil amin Bovad Seifollahfog aydahom Ali
(The person who with his sword made loyal Gabriel lose his shield is the Sword of God, Ali)
Alam hame gatreand va daryast Hossein Khuban hame bandeand va mola ast Hossein
The whole world is made of drops, and Hossein is the sea; all the good people are slaves, and Hossein is the lord
Tarsam ke shefaat konad as gatel khish Az bas ke karam darad va agha ast Hossein
I am afraid that he even forgives his killer because Hossein is so forgiving and generous.
Close to the forte of the blade, there are engraved inscriptions in Persian: Sakht-e Hossein Farajian Zanjan (Made by Hossein Farajian [in] Zanjan). The wooden scabbard is covered in leather and has iron fittings.
