Antique Bukharan knife with silver and niello mounts dated 1801

 A fine quality knife from Bukhara / Uzbekistan. High quality silver mounts intricately decorated to the front with niello inlay, the top mounts with a cartouche depicting a mosque. The sheath is covered with black lacquered leather with a hanging loop to the back. The knife has a blade of watered wootz ‘damascus’ steel, the mounts again of fine silver inlaid with intricate niello scrolling flowers and foliage, the grips inlaid with section of mother of pearl shell ( one slightly damaged). The underside of the grip has a small arabic inscription inlaid in niello dated 1322 (1801). 11 inches long approximately.   Middle east persian indo-persian