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Unknown Markings on axe

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Author	Topic: Unknown Markings on axe
manteris1 Senior Member	posted 03-06-2001 20:03 These marks have always puzzled me, anybody got a clue.................jimmy IP: Logged
Xavier Member	posted 03-07-2001 16:38 Could they not be "Fleurs de lys" the emblem of the French monarchy? They remind me something like that. Anyhow,it is a very nice axe. Xavier IP: Logged
Jim McDougall EEWRS Staff	posted 03-07-2001 22:33 Hi Jimmy, I believe this repeated marking may be the 'chintamani' which was associated with Tamerlane, said to represent three leopard spots over two tiger stripes. There seem to be variations on this interpretation which need further research, but the Tamerlane association was often employed by central Asian armourers. I presume this axe form is of northern India/ central Asia. IP: Logged
Jim McDougall EEWRS Staff	posted 03-09-2001 23:14 Just looking further into this very interesting axe, which appears to be a 'tabarzin' and very likely from either Afghanistan or neighboring regions.These tabarzin (literally 'saddle axes') were used throughout Northern India having evolved from Persian axes of this type from the 17th c. and certainly even earlier. In "Islamic Arms & Armour of Muslim India" , Haider notes a narrative reference to use of the axe stated by Timur (Tamerlane) himself. (p.233) .This 'chintamani' motif is known to appear on Central Asian swords as well, reflecting tribal pride in their ancestry to Tamerlane. Extremely nice piece!! IP: Logged
Therion Senior Member	posted 03-26-2001 12:51 Howdy, folks. My apologies for coming late to the discussions, I was out of town for a while. One extra note to add in - reproductions of these axes were produced in the India/Pakistan/Afghanistan in the mid-1960's. I have a full-sized axe and two heads from that period in my collection. Interestingly enough, I chanced upon the identification while browsing through a 1969 "Museum of Historical Arms" catalog, and found the repro axes listed in the low-cost den-decorator's section. The fleur-de-lys pattern can be seen replicated on the axe heads, but the pattern at some point degenerated down to circles or squares. Just tossin' in some interesting trivia ... Hal Siegel / Therion @ therionarms.com IP: Logged

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