Islamic Arms. Victoria and Albert Museum

London England: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Hardcover. First Edition. Islamic Arms. Waterstain mark to top edge of pages. Slight foxing to end inside covers. Arab technology was an important factor in the development and spread of gunpowder. Islamic gunmakers did not, as in the West, constantly change the design of firearms. As a result, a successful lock design would survive long after it had been discarded in Europe. islamic armourers have always respected tradition. The curved single-edged swords still worn for ceremony, differ little from those carried in the 15th century. What appealed to 19th century collectors and curators was the lavish decoration of these arms - watered steel blades with surfaces like moire silk, guns covered with delicate enamelled gold mounts and dagger hilts carved from semi-precious stones. The wide geographical area covered by this introduction includes Turkey, the Caucasus, North Africa, Persia and India. Anthony North illustrates his text principally from the V & A collection, which contains some fine, early examples of the craft of the Islamic armourer. Most of these arms have not previously been published. Illustrated. Illustrated laminated boards. 48 pp. (We carry a wide selection of titles in The Arts, Theology, History, Politics, Social and Physical Sciences. Academic and Scholarly books and Modern First Editions ,and all types of Educational Reference Literature.) . Good. Decorative Illustrated Boards. First Edition. 1985.