It is interesting that the heart topped by the cross was an early 'balemark' or 'merchants mark' used by the East India Co. with quartered heart holding initials VEIC, and later altered with the cross becoming the number 4.
The cross and orb was also a very commonly seen device on many of the blades seen in the Sudan and Saharan regions. Naturally the association is tenuous at best, but worth mentioning.
I think the suggestions regarding the French device are well placed, and of course French colonial presence would easily allow for this marking either being present in these contexts. It is tempting to consider the meaning of the acronym and this traditional French symbol being represented in this inscribed device, but puzzling why it would have been placed with such detail on a native takouba blade. It seems that the position to the side on the blade resembles that of trademarks of steel firms seen in these kinds of positions on blades from British firms and on kaskaras in Sudan. Again, not even close to conclusive but worthy of consideration.
The anchor component is interesting, but nothing that native artisans would likely copy, and why would someone in a French unit or organization be using a takouba?
|