Moroccan Koummya for comments

[mariusgmioc]

I could not resist the itch and purchased this early 20c koummyia with what at first sight appears to be a repurposed French sword blade.

However, the blade is definitely not repurposed, being specially made for this dagger and bears the marking "Coller Agader."
Agadir/Agader is a city in Morocco.

Any additional information on this dagger or its maker is welcomed!

[Gonzoadler]

Nice piece, the mountings are made of silver?
The blade seems to be specifically made for Koummyas, I found two other pieces with the same blade in the internet. For me it looks like an old Spanish Toledo-blade:

https://de.todocoleccion.net/militaria-blankwaffen/jg-200401-espectacular-gumia-marroqui-realizada-plata-labrada-madera-una-magnifica-hoja-1921~x199040756

https://www.lotsearch.net/lot/un-beau-et-ancien-poignard-avec-une-poignee-en-corne-de-rhinoceros-et-son-51334706

[Kubur]

Hi Marius,

I have a good news and a bad news.
The bad news is that your koummya is not as old as you think.
And most probably from 1950-1970ties.
The good news is that your koummya is in the top end quality for the 20th c koummya. These koummya are very valuable.
For the maker, the Moroccans write, like the French, "Agadir", the English spelling is "Agader"...So you should look at English blades or English influences like Wilkinson.
See these 2 koummya, one like yours and one with a Spanish blade.

Best wishes,
Kubur

[mariusgmioc]

Thank you guys for your help!

Gonzoadler:
- Yes, the mounts are in silver.
- No, the blade is definitely not Spanish/Toledo. Different manufacturing style and different style decorations. The decorations on the blade are very French in style and technology, but from all I could gather so far, the blade was indeed made in Morocco/Agadir by a local, albeit French bladesmith named Coller.

Kubur:
- No bad news as I do not really care too much about the age of a blade (I also collect modern traditional blades), provided it is locally made and conformal to the local traditions & employing traditional technologies.
- In this case, I consider this koummya particularly valuable (for me) because it was locally made and it reflects both local traditions and the colonial past (even earlier 20c koummyas had French made blades - see photos of what I believe to be a first quarter of 20c koummya with French/Poincare face marked blade having the silverwork stamped with the Moroccan ram head).

[Gonzoadler]

Thank you guys for your help!

- No, the blade is definitely not Spanish/Toledo. Different manufacturing style and different style decorations. The decorations on the blade are very French in style and technology, but from all I could gather so far, the blade was indeed made in Morocco/Agadir by a local, albeit French bladesmith named Coller.



When I looked at this blade I thought about old Toledo-blades like the attached ones. I don't know if similar things were produced in France or England.
But I think Spain would be plausible because Morocco was occupied by France and Spain during a longer time.

[mariusgmioc]

As you may notice, the style of decorations is very different from the Spanish style.

Moreover, both oak leaves and trophies are classic French symbols very frequently found on blades (see excerpts from "Armes Blanches" by Lhoste and Buigne).

[Bob A]

That's a very elegant koumaya, to my eyes. There's a restraint in the ornamentation which I find appealing, though I don't know if the locals would see it the same way.

What is the material used in the hilt?

[mariusgmioc]

That's a very elegant koumaya, to my eyes. There's a restraint in the ornamentation which I find appealing, though I don't know if the locals would see it the same way.

What is the material used in the hilt?

Sorry Bob for the late reply!

The hilt is made of wood.

[Sajen]

Nice piece Marius! :)