"Pitch-Qabz" from Bukhara - Uzbekistan
 

Hi my Friends
let me introduce you a small marvel, a "Pitch-Qabz" from Bukhara - Uzbekistan
- 19th or 20th century
- beautiful shaped blade as a yataghan
- nice contrast for a very fine "johar"
- handle constituted of 2 plaques of mother of pearl with a thin line of small turquoise
- the back of the handle, is decorated in silver mount
- scabbard is constituted on a wood core, covered with silver, copper, leather, decorated with a small turquoise

ask myself that question;
- the fringed leather pouch that accompanies it, it's come from Bukhara ??

it looks too much like the work of Native North America ... :confused:
but the 2 bobbles, and bells silvered seems to be Asian :confused:

then I ask for, what do you think about this ?? ;)

à +

Dom

Hi Dom,
I like your "small marvel" :)
I believe the leather poach is original, because the pendants with cords attached to it are traditionally Uzbek, such pendats were attached to belts, swords, braids, etc. And poaches for these type of knives were used too!

I completely agree with Tatyana, and this is truly a beautiful bichaq. What compellingly makes this pouch seem American Indian is that it is rawhide, a most commonly seen material seen in our frontiers and the fringe of course adds to the attractive appearance. In Central Asia, Uzbekistan was in many ways one of the frontiers in much the same sense, and rawhide was certainly well known there as well.

Best regards,
Jim

Tatyana and Jim
thank you for your valuable comments :D
I was really afraid of being ridiculed if
I had announced that this bag was well Uzbek,
as well as the seller had indicated to me

I don't believe obligatorily all sellers ... :p

thanks again for your assistance

à +

Dom

Very good idea to check your six with altogether too many sellers!!! But I dont think the term 'ridicule' is in the same universe with you........one of our most valuable assets here :)
All the best,
Jim

Nice Buharan knife, Dom. and nice to have one completed with silver scabbard, stones and wootz blade. I also like Buharan knifes like this. Here's one with silver/niello handle and wootz blade, and also dated as of 19th C... the pouch is missing:-)

Very fine knives, I must say. Not my area of knowledge really - what is the silver "bud" shaped finial to the scabbard chape ? I have seen very similar finials to other Islamic knife scabbards...

Thanks and regards.

Thanks Alex, yours it's realy "gorgeous" ... I love it :D

à +

Dom

there are a few ethnographic images here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Prokudin-Gorsky
stunning images considering they were taken over 100 years ago

amazing, pity that the sword is hided
the kaftan is a wonder, as well as, the silver belt buckle :D
thanks to share with us

à +

Dom

Indeed, though Prokudin-Gorsky's pioneering color work was really created for projection and printing them at the time was quite difficult. What we are seeing here is a brilliant reconstruction though digital means. Of course the raw material of the three different monochrome negatives still needed to be of the highest quality to yield such a lovely result as this. Here is a link to the modern process surrounding the presentation of these 100 year old images. Off topic a bit, but i'm a bit of a photo geek. ;) :D
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/making.html

Dom,
Here is Bukharan knife from Mozer/Zeller book. Most elements, if not all, in its construction and design are very similar to yours, but the pouch is little cooler:-)

Great bringing this Wiki image to the discussion Alex and nice unusual dagger you present too.

Dom, the sword from what images I've found appears to be the standard Russian Sabre of the day, 1881-1908 pattern but the embellishments are WOW, it is part of a series of photos by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky and the sabre is seen from many different angles. The dress of the sabre appears to be in full gold and enamel dress as would be expected for an Emir.

The series is available on the net, but not being on my home PC at present I do not have them available to post nor the link.

Gav

Many Thanks Alex and Gav :D
my documentation file for this dagger (real asset for us)
starts to get really argued with all these input
I appreciate a lot your assistance :p
regards

à +

Dom

Dom, I would be happy to talk and learn more of Bukhara every day :D

My apologies too Dom, being away from my own notes, I had my wires crossed abour the exactness of the Emir's sabre but have a look at these two links;

First one scroll half way down and view the sabre in the hands of a Bukharan Interior minister and then in the second link a better image of the Emir's sword hilt (I'm sure there are more somewhere...), they are the same style Russian sabres in Bukharan dress...I know not how much the Emir's differs but I would say not much looking at them at face value.

http://www.turkotek.com/misc_00022/amu_darya.htm

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4SpVzVsDA0...0%2599s-15.jpg

Gav