Persian Watered Steel Bident Lancehead with inlay and goldwork

 A rare and good quality Persian Lancehead, with two waved blades. The piece is made from watered wootz steel as is eveident from the fine crystalline patterning withing the steel, each side is chiselled with a cartouche containing a lion attacking its prey, further inlay outlines each blade as the shape of a snake with open jaws. The tip of each blade is carefully thickened for increasing rigidity for a thrust. The shaft is chamfered carefully creating a series of lozenge shaped faces, which are all adorned with gold decoration. The original wooden shaft to the lance has been removed but a section of it still remains just below the end of the steel haft.  Good condition some areas of darkened patina, 18th or early 19th century. 54 cms long.