JAMBIYA for COMMENT (Thankyou Santa)

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams,

I'm not sure where you mean however I assume you refer to the coastal belt of Yemen before it becomes Oman?...since between Yemen and Oman does not exist The weapon is not one from Salalah..In the Dhofar region (Salalah and its environs) either an Omani Khanjar is worn or occasionally there is the 7 ring variant khanjar from Saudia ("Habaabi") style or like the one shown below tucked in at the side..
Having said that being a border environment it does not preclude the odd Yemeni person from turning up in Yemeni regalia.

What I mean is that your weapon is Yemeni not Omani...

I agree that trade with India is likely on the coast of Yemen and I know there are a lot of artefacts in the Yemeni Souks from Indian trade influence.. for example the Mandoos or marriage box specific to the Malibari coast of India is a dowry chest most favoured by the Yemeni people..

I am certain that there are loads of old Indian coins in the souks...As a cautionary note the UAE Souks are awash with Indian work and it is not unusual to find workshop production quantities of such fake daggers filtering in through there.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaams Ibrahiim, Bad description on my part as I am well aware that Yemen and Oman border eachother. The comment was purely stating that this is not from the Hadhramaut interior, but from the coastal regions. I have not anywhere suggested that this Jambiya came from Oman.
As to the comment about fakes---I do not see what this has to do with the present thread, as this is definately GENUINE.
I do realise that there are those who are turning out modern copies of Jambiya, some very good ones, but these at best are only replicas, and at worst, fakes designed to trap unwary buyers.
Lets get back to the subject in hand

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Salaams Ibrahiim, Bad description on my part as I am well aware that Yemen and Oman border eachother. The comment was purely stating that this is not from the Hadhramaut interior, but from the coastal regions. I have not anywhere suggested that this Jambiya came from Oman.
As to the comment about fakes---I do not see what this has to do with the present thread, as this is definately GENUINE.
I do realise that there are those who are turning out modern copies of Jambiya, some very good ones, but these at best are only replicas, and at worst, fakes designed to trap unwary buyers.
Lets get back to the subject in hand

Salaams kahnjar1~ My letter was unfinished so Ive modified it... Good point . I think the hilt is bull horn which is still very acceptable. Unless it is one of the light jades/onyx?... Either way it looks ok. Salalah or Dhofar rather is a fantastic region and I lived there for 6 years mostly in the mountains.. It is quite unlike anywhere else on the Peninsular and carries with it an incredible history and artefacts not to mention the amazing Jebali people themselves who can look pretty daunting dressed only in a loin cloth armed to the teeth and dyed from head to foot in deep purple !

To assist your understanding of Oman I can most highly recommend the quite brilliant book in two volumes;

The Craft Heritage of Oman by Richardson and Dorr published by Motivate Publishing. ISBN 1 86063 158 4

and whilst there is no substitute for living here ~ this incredible publication puts you firmly in the ballpark. I say that not only because about 10 years ago the authors were here photographing artefacts in my fathers shop (Murad al Balooshi) and several pictures star in its volumes...but also in its quality of pictures and definitions.

This is a museum quality research document.

Each volume opens with a quite astonishing large format picture of Hirz ~ They must have selected from hundreds of these and popped up only the finest examples, setting the books standard throughout ~heres one below ~

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[kahnjar1]

....interesting but the subject here is the Jambiya. The jewellery is covered in a seperate thread....not this one.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

....interesting but the subject here is the Jambiya. The jewellery is covered in a seperate thread....not this one.

Salaams I am illustrating a book and attaching it so that
the Forum may be better informed... no?


If during research people can view the decoration on silver Arab jewelery with an open mind they may suddenly realise what is the importance of unrelated objects such as textiles, rugs, tribal jewelery etc to Arab weapons design...

Some people get so good at this they can pinpoint an actual maker or a region from which a design originates. On the other hand the less well informed may simply wish to view an object in a goldfish bowl of isolated exclusion but Forum quality demands the former study and we all strive for that...

An old school motto springs to mind "e ferro ferrum et temperatum" and as we are all learners it translates nicely as ~ From out of Iron.. Commeth Steel ~

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

To assist your understanding of Oman I can most highly recommend the quite brilliant book in two volumes;

The Craft Heritage of Oman by Richardson and Dorr published by Motivate Publishing. ISBN 1 86063 158 4

and whilst there is no substitute for living here ~ this incredible publication puts you firmly in the ballpark. I say that not only because about 10 years ago the authors were here photographing artefacts in my fathers shop (Murad al Balooshi) and several pictures star in its volumes...but also in its quality of pictures and definitions.

This is a museum quality research document.

Each volume opens with a quite astonishing large format picture of Hirz ~ They must have selected from hundreds of these and popped up only the finest examples, setting the books standard throughout ~heres one below ~

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

I can not thank you enough for sharing Ibrahiim, it is an outstanding looking reference book, even at the high price it seems like a treasure trove of information and well worth it.

Best

Gavin

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by freebooter

I can not thank you enough for sharing Ibrahiim, it is an outstanding looking reference book, even at the high price it seems like a treasure trove of information and well worth it.

Best

Gavin

Salaams Gavin,
I have a truckload of books but the one which is open every day is that one. It has a hefty ticket and is only in English but it is a supperb research tool and without it I would imagine people being rather in the dark.
Shukran ..

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.