This is an Islamic Silver & feather Fly Whisk with Niello decoration to all sides, almost certainly of Iraqi or Iranian origin, & signed and dated for 1918.

The whisk consists of a central, tied feather 'rod' with very pale orange feathers tied around it's base. The whisk is set within a Silver handle.

The Silver handle tapers outwards towards the domed end, & is decorated with three Niello scenes, two around the body of the handle & one on the end.

The lower Niello scene depicts a person climbing up a palm tree, a Herd tending a flock of goats or sheep, & a 'giant' figure completely clothed in Black. The upper scene shows a Dhow (or other type of sailing boat) with four crew, & a camel carrying a passenger, & the scene on the end shows a Mosque, with two minarets & a tower.

The top edge of the handle bears the artist / makers signature in Arabic, & is next to the date of 1918 (in Arabic-Indic numerals), both in Niello.

Although there is a makers / artists signature in Niello, there are no hallmarks (as tends to be the norm on Iraqi Silver of this period), so the case is being offered as solid white metal.

Condition is fine. The feathers are good & still strong, with very little deterioration, the handle has the expected, but light, surface marks, & the base of the handle (where the feathers are mounted) has a small bruise.

The whisk has an overall length of around 9" (to the tip of the feathers), whilst the handle measures approx 3 5/8" (approx 9.3cm) in length.

Overall, a very scarce WW1 period Silver Niello fly-whisk, of a fine quality, and very unusual to find one dated.