View Single Post
Old 13th February 2009, 04:51 PM   #6
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,747
Default

This is a koummya form dagger, modern as noted. As also has been noted, these representations of traditional form weapons are commercially oriented and as with most volume produced items, often subtle variations seek to attract attention of one product vs. another. In many cases of course, it is the personal style imbued by the maker, probably very much as was done in the times when these were actually used weapons.

It seems that the work on these may in some ways reflect artistic license in employing cultural symbolism, which is why the hilt form is so different in this case. A very good book that would add a great deal of information pertaining to this aspect of material culture shown in jewelry styles is,
"Africa Adorned" by Angela Fisher (2004). Incredible photography and great photos showing the forms used in the Sahara, Tuareg styles, Moroccan and others, with great clues for looking at many of these more modern weapon interpretations.

All best regards,
Jim
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote