Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

kahnjar1 · 16th June 2012, 02:30 AM

Quite by chance, this Jambiya came my way recently.
The Bousani Family are one of the top Yemenite Jewish Silversmith families, who worked in a small village called Bait Baws, which is on the outskirts of Sana'a. They were famous for the intricate silverwork, and open filigree work which they produced. This Jambiya features both these traits.
As with most of the Jewish Silversmiths in Yemen, they moved to Israel when it came into being in 1949. There is a picture below courtesy of Steve Gracie's book, showing Haim Bousani at work in his shop in Israel in 1950.
The Jambiya itself is mounted on a handmade belt which features gold and silver thread, and is decorated with silver fittings. The BOUSANI stamp is impressed on the back of the triangular piece.
The hilt is horn, with guilded decoration and silver pins. Probably rhino to match the quality of the rest of the piece, but unsure. The blade is nothing out of the ordinary.
I have shown several pics of the jambiya removed from its belt, as a significant amount of the beautiful silverwork is hidden when attached.
Enjoy

16th June 2012, 02:30 AM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,729	Thouma Jambiya by BOUSANI Quite by chance, this Jambiya came my way recently. The Bousani Family are one of the top Yemenite Jewish Silversmith families, who worked in a small village called Bait Baws, which is on the outskirts of Sana'a. They were famous for the intricate silverwork, and open filigree work which they produced. This Jambiya features both these traits. As with most of the Jewish Silversmiths in Yemen, they moved to Israel when it came into being in 1949. There is a picture below courtesy of Steve Gracie's book, showing Haim Bousani at work in his shop in Israel in 1950. The Jambiya itself is mounted on a handmade belt which features gold and silver thread, and is decorated with silver fittings. The BOUSANI stamp is impressed on the back of the triangular piece. The hilt is horn, with guilded decoration and silver pins. Probably rhino to match the quality of the rest of the piece, but unsure. The blade is nothing out of the ordinary. I have shown several pics of the jambiya removed from its belt, as a significant amount of the beautiful silverwork is hidden when attached. Enjoy Attached Images Last edited by kahnjar1; 16th June 2012 at 05:37 AM.