Takouba purchase at antique shop

Jim McDougall · 28th October 2012, 09:40 PM

I very much agree with Iain on assessments, very late 19th into 20th c., and a soundly characteristic example of Saharan takouba. As Iain well notes, these can be presumed Tuareg, however various tribal groups carried them. The blade is of the 'masri' type (Rodd,1926) which became well established with Hausa swordsmiths, whose traditions carried well into the 20th century and the use of the dukari moon symbols used in kaskaras of Kasalla.

The interesting linear crescent motif seen on Doms example resembles the 'Lohr' type motif described in Reed (1984) and is far more associated with kaskaras of Kasallawi period than typical Saharan blade markings. This would suggest possibly an eastward potential as provenance, with these kinds of motif possibly aligned more with these kinds of motif on kaskara blades.
Regihis, these motifs do not necessarily signal ancient, as there are really few weapons especially in these regions that would meet that classification, and modern interpretations of many markings and motif as you have shown, have been carried forward rather faithfully.

28th October 2012, 09:40 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,294	I very much agree with Iain on assessments, very late 19th into 20th c., and a soundly characteristic example of Saharan takouba. As Iain well notes, these can be presumed Tuareg, however various tribal groups carried them. The blade is of the 'masri' type (Rodd,1926) which became well established with Hausa swordsmiths, whose traditions carried well into the 20th century and the use of the dukari moon symbols used in kaskaras of Kasalla. The interesting linear crescent motif seen on Doms example resembles the 'Lohr' type motif described in Reed (1984) and is far more associated with kaskaras of Kasallawi period than typical Saharan blade markings. This would suggest possibly an eastward potential as provenance, with these kinds of motif possibly aligned more with these kinds of motif on kaskara blades. Regihis, these motifs do not necessarily signal ancient, as there are really few weapons especially in these regions that would meet that classification, and modern interpretations of many markings and motif as you have shown, have been carried forward rather faithfully.