Sloane Street Auctions to Sell Stunning Islamic Arms and Armour Belonging to the Father of Modern Jeddah

Dr Mohammed Farsi’s extensive collection embraced Western works from Henry Moore to David Hockney, as well as Eastern treasures

UNITED KINGDOM, October 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Credited with having the greatest group of modern Egyptian art in private hands, Dr Mohammed Said Farsi (1936-2019) was also a dedicated collector of Islamic arms and armour.

Now its highlights will be offered in Sloane Street Auctions’ October 22 sale, with expectations of more than £66,000.

Dr Farsi was Mayor of Jeddah from 1972-86 and is known as the father of Saudi Arabia’s modern port city. He also led the planning for redeveloping Mecca and Medina. That extended vision placed art at the centre of the urban environment as he embarked on replicating the glories of Beirut’s corniche in Jeddah.

His artistic impact on Jeddah was supreme, as he installed more than 400 sculptures across the city. It culminated in a book by his own son, Jeddah, City of Art.

While dedicating his attention to these cities, he also built his own remarkable art collection, which has supplied landmark auctions with millions of pounds worth of Middle Eastern and Western art over the past two decades.

In 2024, for example, Sloane Street Auctions offered works by Henry Moore, Salvador Dalí and David Hockney, among others, from the Farsi holdings.

Such is the collection’s importance that it was the first of its type to be fully documented thanks to the 1998 publication of A Museum in a Book: The Farsi Art Collection – the Egyptian Works.

“Dr Farsi’s impeccable taste and astute eye, coupled with his standing as a leading figure in modern Arabia, make this catalogue of treasures a must for serious collectors of Islamic arms and armour,” said Daniel Hunt of Sloane Street Auctions. “We are honoured to have been asked to sell by his family and are delighted to do so at an event that appropriately heralds the launch of the annual Asian Art in London festival.”

Leading the highlights is a rare Mughal gold-damascened steel crutch dagger (Zafar Takieh) or throne of victory. A ceremonial and functional weapon that appears in Indian historical sources from the Mughal period onward, it features a T-shaped handle that allowed a noble or ascetic to lean on it while sitting cross-legged. It often concealed a stiletto blade inside the shaft.

This example, which is 21½ in long, has a pale jade hilt, of crescent form carved with floral motifs and set with precious stones. The crutch contains a gold damascened stiletto blade. The forte contains a scrolling floral design to both sides and a band of inscription decorates the remainder of the blade. It is dated 1138 (1725 AD). The scabbard, is further set with precious stones, including natural rubies and emeralds. The extensive repoussé work contains repeating pattern and scrolling vines. The tip of the scabbard is jade and lotus leaf carving. It is also inscribed with a couplet in Arabic and Turkish.
The weapon was typically part of male formal attire at court sessions; the king would often appear with the zafar takiya as a prop both for comfort and to signal power and authority, and the attending courtiers and members of nobility would rest their arms on their own zafar takiyas while seated. Dervishes were prohibited from carrying weapons, but the zafar takiya allowed them to conceal swords for their safety as they wandered, often alone, from place to place. The estimate is £6,000-8,000.

Pick of the guns is an 18th century Ottoman, silver inlaid miquelet rifle. The wood stock is decorated in natural and green stained bone and circular brass and ebony geometric mosaics, the underside with extensive palmette and scrolling vegetal motifs. The steel lock, barrel and muzzle are inlaid with an extensive floral design, and there is calligraphic text to the barrel. At 40½ in long, it is expected to fetch £4,000-6,000.

A 27in long early 18th century Mughal jade-hilted sword has extensive gold damascened calligraphic text and a pale jade hilt carved with further inscription. The scabbard is set with precious stones, and the repoussé cartouche contains the date, 1135 (1723). It has a guide of £3,000-5,000.

The catalogue also includes a 19th century cuirass worn by the Bodyguard Regiment of the Royal Elite Guard to the Khedive of Egypt. Dating to c.1840-60, it carries hopes of £1,000-2,000.

A 19th century Qajar a gold-overlaid steel ‘demonic’ helmet (kulah khud) is another striking piece. Of domed form, It has a raised nose, engraved and overlaid gold eyes, applied ears and a reticulated mouth surrounded by an engraved beard. The rim has a narrow band comprising inscriptions.The mask may be linked to contemporary depictions of the legendary Iranian Hero Rustam. Many Shahnama editions of the 19th century show him wearing a helmet made of the head of the fearsome demon, The White Div. The estimate £800-1,200.

Live online bidding is available via Sloane Street Auctions’ website at www.sloanestreetauctions.com

For further information contact info@lucasfieldmedia.com Tel 07968 952850

Image courtesy of Sloane Street Auctions

Captions

Dagger (Lot 139)
Leading the highlights is this rare Mughal gold-damascened steel crutch dagger (Zafar Takieh) or throne of victory. The estimate is £6,000-8,000.

Rifle (Lot 159)
An 18th century Ottoman, silver inlaid and highly decorated miquelet rifle – £4,000-6,000.

Sword (Lot 162)
An early 18th century Mughal jade-hilted sword with extensive gold damascened calligraphic text and a carved pale jade hilt. The guide is £3,000-5,000.

Cuirass (Lot 163)
19th century cuirass worn by the Bodyguard Regiment of the Royal Elite Guard to the Khedive of Egypt – £1,000-2,000.

Helmet (Lot 141)
19th century Qajar a gold-overlaid steel ‘demonic’ helmet (kulah khud), estimated at £800-1,200.

Gun (Lot 161)
18th century, gem-set Ottoman miquelet rifle – £3,000-5,000

Jade (Lot 162)
Early 18th century, Mughal jade-hilted sword dated 1135 (1723). It is pitched at £3,000-5,000.

Kilij (Lot 157)
Dated 1128 (1715), this Ottoman, gold-damascened steel sword (kilij) should sell for £2,000-4,000.

Jar (Lot 169)
Post-Sasanian or earlier, large turquoise glaze storage jar, 14 in high, with applied rope decoration. The estimate £600-800.

Axe (Lot 166)
19th century, Indo-Persian gold koftgari ceremonial axe (tabar). At 26½ in long, it is expected to fetch £500-800.

About Sloane Street Auctions

Sloane Street Auctions was founded by Mr Daniel Hunt after spending over 30 years as a high-profile gallery owner and dealer, based at his galleries in Lower Sloane Street, London. Daniel Hunt’s intimate knowledge of the upper tiers of the art and antique sectors throughout millennia, from BC to 2022, provides Sloane Street Auctions with unprecedented access to private collections worldwide and the best of access to specific expertise.

Sloane Street Auctions’ primary objective is to work with both our buyers and sellers to provide the art market access to the rarest objects and art - from Classical Antiquities, Icons and Old Masters, right through to the YBAs and beyond.

Sloane Street Auctions takes great pleasure in dealing with people. We aim to provide a seamless and pleasant service, whether buying or selling. Our vision is to unearth the world’s greatest treasures and to match them with the world’s greatest collectors, whether an occasional buyer or a seasoned connoisseur. Sloane Street Auctions prides itself in providing the highest level of client service and discretion.

With Daniel’s contacts spanning over 40 countries worldwide, accumulated over a lifetime in the industry, Sloane Street Auctions empowers our community of connoisseurs and collectors to acquire and consign the greatest of fine art and objects at a highly competitive rate.

With Daniel Hunt’s expertise in curating some of the most renowned private collections worldwide, Sloane Street Auctions has the ability to source a wide variety of extraordinary pieces. Sloane Street Auctions’ concentrates on, but is not limited to, Old Master Drawings and Paintings, European Furniture and Works of Art, Impressionist Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Photography and Private Sales.

Julia Macquisten
Sloane Street Auctions
info@lucasfieldmedia.com