An Interesting Ottoman Qama and Translation Help Needed
 

I have recently picked up this Ottoman qama that seems unique for a number of reasons:

1. The qama shows the Ottoman coat of arms on the upper mount with an inscription(cartouche) above.

2. There is a woven Islamic inscription on to the scabbard material(once a plush velvet, now worn down) with copper wire or bullion, finished with two bullion stars.

3. The blade clearly had an engraved foliage panel on both sides of the central rib, but it has been entirely covered by gold koftgari inscriptions.

I am assuming it is a late Ottoman piece, and wondering, with the coat of arms in place, if it is some sort of standard issue??

I am assuming the inscriptions are in Turkish via Arabic script.

Can anyone tell me more about this type of qama???

Can anyone translate the cartouche above the coat of arms and the woven inscription on the scabbard material???

Thanks in advance for any help or info!

Hi Charles,
Not a lot I can elucidate on except to say you have a really nice piece there and I look forward to reading what others say. I can say there is a date on the scabbard both on the cloth and the metalwork, 1310 A.H. equating to 1893 A.D. Again lovely item :)
Regards,
Norman.

P.S. The star on the 'coat of arms' looks similar to Ottoman awards of this period.

Thanks Norman. Every little bit helps, and your date helps confirm exactly what I was thinking about it being a late Ottoman piece.

I'm also looking forward to further input.

Beautiful qama, the inscription on the blade would have to wait for Zifer, but I could help with the rest. On the scabard in both places it reads, Alsayed Osmaan Darwaish Aaghaa, with the year 1310 underneath. I'd assume it is the name of the owner.

A better look at the Ottoman coat of arms, though I do not have a translation. Acknowledgments to: http://turkishtoysoldier.blogspot.co.uk

Here is the translations

cheers,

Zifir,

Thanks so much for your help with translation. The name that is repeated twice...I assume this is the owner???...or perhaps the maker?

We don't have the typical terms; amelu (made by) or sahib (owner) before the name. However my guess is it's the name of the owner.

Best,