Unusual Yataghan scabbard for comment

Jim McDougall · 21st June 2011, 07:22 PM

Hi Gav,
Not sure I've ever seen a precious stone mounted in the tip of a scabbard, but it certainly seems logically done, as evidenced by the appearance here. It seems to me that the use of coral in Ottoman weapons was prevalent in those of thier regions in North Africa, and this would include of course Egypt and brings in the note on the coquettish Mamluks. I keep thinking of the heavily coral studded pistols and swords attributed to North Africa and the littoral towards the Maghreb. I hope somebody can find another example that might tell us more.

All the best,
Jim

ALEX · 21st June 2011, 08:57 PM

The coral or precious stone tip mounting is not common but not unusual.
Most common it is coral for Ottoman pieces. Here's very nicely-done coral mounting. My interpretation: it signifies fire coming out of the dragon's mouth... and, as Dom correctly noticed, gem stones just look good:-)

Gavin Nugent · 21st June 2011, 11:51 PM

Jim, Alex, thank you for the input.

Alex, great image, thanks for sharing.
Is it in a known reference for from someone's collection?
I'd love to see the whole thing in context.
I'd love to see others in context if they are known as it does seem very unusual given that it appears to me to be known in about 1 in every 200 Yataghan.
It would be interesting to know if it is a regional aspect given the accuracy of origins noted in a number of works I cited above.
I too feel it represents fire. The piece you present Alex shows to be within the beasts mouth, but the one I show seems to be more floral and earthy rather than a beasts mouth???

Any more out there, I know there are some keen Yataghan collectors here.

Gav

21st June 2011, 08:57 PM	#2
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	The coral or precious stone tip mounting is not common but not unusual. Most common it is coral for Ottoman pieces. Here's very nicely-done coral mounting. My interpretation: it signifies fire coming out of the dragon's mouth... and, as Dom correctly noticed, gem stones just look good:-) Attached Images

21st June 2011, 11:51 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Lovely Jim, Alex, thank you for the input. Alex, great image, thanks for sharing. Is it in a known reference for from someone's collection? I'd love to see the whole thing in context. I'd love to see others in context if they are known as it does seem very unusual given that it appears to me to be known in about 1 in every 200 Yataghan. It would be interesting to know if it is a regional aspect given the accuracy of origins noted in a number of works I cited above. I too feel it represents fire. The piece you present Alex shows to be within the beasts mouth, but the one I show seems to be more floral and earthy rather than a beasts mouth??? Any more out there, I know there are some keen Yataghan collectors here. Gav

21st June 2011, 07:22 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Gav, Not sure I've ever seen a precious stone mounted in the tip of a scabbard, but it certainly seems logically done, as evidenced by the appearance here. It seems to me that the use of coral in Ottoman weapons was prevalent in those of thier regions in North Africa, and this would include of course Egypt and brings in the note on the coquettish Mamluks. I keep thinking of the heavily coral studded pistols and swords attributed to North Africa and the littoral towards the Maghreb. I hope somebody can find another example that might tell us more. All the best, Jim