A little Sahel/Maghreb panoply...

Iain · 20th October 2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Well Iain - I really think you should be crowned "King of the Takoubas" !

It's what happens when you refuse to collect anything else.

The problem is once you've started getting into the scarce, old types, it's exceptional luck to pick up more than one or two good pieces a year. Something at a German auction has peeked my interest but the starting bid is pure insanity and I doubt I'll have anything new for a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Wow, impressive!

Thanks! Taken a lot of time to find them all.

I know there's others with some very impressive pieces as well.

Robert · 21st October 2013, 02:15 AM

Every item you have shown here are outstanding pieces but your new example with the single fuller and the dagger are by far my favorites. If the ones you have in the group photo are just a part of your collection, saying that I am jealous would be a huge understatement. Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful examples with us all.

Best,
Robert

thinreadline · 21st October 2013, 10:47 AM

Absolutely stunning Iain ...

CharlesS · 21st October 2013, 03:07 PM

Here is another group of daggers similar to Iain's. I have been collecting these since 1999. I think they are stunningly artful, elegant, and exotic, and ....yet, that said, they remain quite a bit of a mystery. As Iain has noted they are attributed to the Sahel/Maghreb and Senegal, but I have never been able to actually pinpoint their origin or, for that matter, even a correct ethnographic name for them. Perhaps some of the other collectors of African ethnographic arms are more can help us here.

With little collector interest in them and the relative rarity with which they show up, they have just not garnered much attention.

The two examples to the left are more recent, probably 1950 or later. The others are older, likely early 20th century.

Iain · 21st October 2013, 03:18 PM

I remembered I'd seen a stamp featuring one of these; attached.

Great collection Charles! They really are some of the most artistic and unique daggers out there. I've seen some online with very ornate blade cut-outs as well.

The rounded finials on some of your pommels remind me of Manding sword pommels. Perhaps there is a connection. I have never seen well documented Wolof weaponry, so it could be an element of that as well.

And thanks to all who keep posting very kind comments about the collection pieces I've been showing. I really appreciate it and love to be able to show off the older examples of the takouba form and dispel some of the notions of the sword type being flimsy.

CharlesS · 21st October 2013, 03:34 PM

Hi Iain,

That's stamp probably goes further in pinpointing the origin of these than anything else I have seen on paper!! Now if we could only acquire the correct regional name for these??!!

What a great find and thanks for sharing!

Iain · 22nd October 2013, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Hi Iain,

That's stamp probably goes further in pinpointing the origin of these than anything else I have seen on paper!! Now if we could only acquire the correct regional name for these??!!

What a great find and thanks for sharing!

I had a bit of a look last night, but didn't turn up anything yet. If there is a record it's likely going to be in French I think. Sadly not a language I get on particularly well with!

21st October 2013, 03:07 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Here is another group of daggers similar to Iain's. I have been collecting these since 1999. I think they are stunningly artful, elegant, and exotic, and ....yet, that said, they remain quite a bit of a mystery. As Iain has noted they are attributed to the Sahel/Maghreb and Senegal, but I have never been able to actually pinpoint their origin or, for that matter, even a correct ethnographic name for them. Perhaps some of the other collectors of African ethnographic arms are more can help us here. With little collector interest in them and the relative rarity with which they show up, they have just not garnered much attention. The two examples to the left are more recent, probably 1950 or later. The others are older, likely early 20th century. Attached Images

21st October 2013, 03:18 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	I remembered I'd seen a stamp featuring one of these; attached. Great collection Charles! They really are some of the most artistic and unique daggers out there. I've seen some online with very ornate blade cut-outs as well. The rounded finials on some of your pommels remind me of Manding sword pommels. Perhaps there is a connection. I have never seen well documented Wolof weaponry, so it could be an element of that as well. And thanks to all who keep posting very kind comments about the collection pieces I've been showing. I really appreciate it and love to be able to show off the older examples of the takouba form and dispel some of the notions of the sword type being flimsy. Attached Images

21st October 2013, 02:15 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Every item you have shown here are outstanding pieces but your new example with the single fuller and the dagger are by far my favorites. If the ones you have in the group photo are just a part of your collection, saying that I am jealous would be a huge understatement. Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful examples with us all. Best, Robert

21st October 2013, 10:47 AM	#3
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Absolutely stunning Iain ...

21st October 2013, 03:34 PM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Hi Iain, That's stamp probably goes further in pinpointing the origin of these than anything else I have seen on paper!! Now if we could only acquire the correct regional name for these??!! What a great find and thanks for sharing!