Birds and fish
Vandoo, Yep that is definately along the same lines. Since in Islam you can't represent living beings in art they are always represented in an abstract way, kinda working the boundaries of what's allowed. For my money I'd have to go with the bird (it's just so common in all the artwork I've seen) or a fish another very important symbol to the people who live down there (mine could just as easily represent a parrot fish - common fish down there and good eating). You'll see the representation of spread feathers (much as the one hilt you have mentioned as palm tree) and on many items down there especially kites. As well I've noticed a not uncommomn tendendacy to abstractly represent fins (which in the abstract can easily be mistaken for spread feathers or waves. That said I never heard anyone down there mention waves when describing a piece with either abstract, doesn't mean it's not what the artist intended just passing on my limited exposure.
Dan
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