Mysterious jambiya

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Andreas

I'll give it a shot: Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson (1881-1945), soldier, orientalist and famed collector.

YES Well done my friend!
Most of his collection is in Cairo.
But some objects are dissiminated in private and public collections in US and Uk.
This jambiya was sold in US.

[Andreas]

Motan, I notice you had the answer to Kubur’s question ahead of me, but as you are still under probation mine got posted first. It happened to me, and it is frustrating, also a helpful answer may go unnoticed. However, this precaution helps maintaining certain standards.
About the jambiya, I have a couple of questions: what the material the hilt is made of could be? And what are these coin-looking disks with Roman numbers on them supposed to represent? An attempt to imitate Venetian ducats, perhaps?

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Andreas

Motan, I notice you had the answer to Kubur’s question ahead of me, but as you are still under probation mine got posted first. It happened to me, and it is frustrating, also a helpful answer may go unnoticed. However, this precaution helps maintaining certain standards.
About the jambiya, I have a couple of questions: what the material the hilt is made of could be? And what are these coin-looking disks with Roman numbers on them supposed to represent? An attempt to imitate Venetian ducats, perhaps?

Dear Motan,
Yes I'm so sorry, I haven't seen your answer. You got the golden ball.
Good question it's a kind of amber. It's not bakelite (I have a jambiya in bakelite and the material is very different).
The coins are copies of Indian / buddhist things. Have a look at Gracie and Elgood, they talk about that.
Best,
Kubur

[Andreas]

Originally Posted by Kubur

The coins are copies of Indian / buddhist things.

Kubur

With Roman numbers?

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Andreas

With Roman numbers?

Ok you are right and its very complicated.
They are Yemeni copies of Indian coins, themselves copies of Venetian ducats.
They replaced the Christ by Buddha...
Some jambiya have indian ruppies, British coins and sometimes Venetian ducats.

[motan]

Hi Andreas and Kubur. You are both being very decent, but I don't really mind. If there was a substantial money reward or few good khanjars in it..
You are right Andreas. I am still under supevision and that causes delay.
In my view, it is always nice to have some personal mark on a piece, like the name of the maker or the owner, or other signs like date or place of manufacture. This one is probably made as a present for major Gayer-Anderson and therefore, it is not older than 1915, more likely 1930-40.
Eytan