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Originally Posted by weapons 27
NEW PHOTOS IN MACRO MODE
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Salaams weapons 27 Nice ! I like this dagger with its Neillo decorated cartouche and what looks like Koftgari gold work throughout including the scabbard. Careful how you clean it or you will lose the goldwork ... The Neillo will also vanish. coke cola will clean the blade but get nothing on the decorative parts at all... if in doubt dont clean it...or soap and water only.
~ For an interesting look through the Qajar dynasty see
http://www.iranchamber.com/history/qajar/qajar.php but there are plenty more on the web. The cartouche appears to be a falcon possibly with a pidgeon or duck...in its claws ... I imagine in its day this was worn by someone fairly noble at a Persian Court... badge of office as opposed to weapon of war...
For a basic definition of Niello see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niello but I add that Niello was a well recognised Persian(and other neighboring areas) decorative style developed to a high degree in the Qajar period. Although it evolved into an acid technique it started in ancient times as a blackening in the pattern by rubbing in burned acorn cuttings. Gold leaf was produced by hammering the metal between shets of paper made from the fibrous bast of the mulberry tree. See
http://forhex.org/crafts-rajasthan-damascening-koftgari or put
koftgari into forum search or see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIBpSBVDca4 1
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.