Oman, Morocco or Zanzibar?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

In response to Blue Lander (post #75), while this is indeed a crude munitions grade weapon, with hilt in 'nimcha' style, I would point out that the telling point is that langet style foldover on the guard. This feature is characteristic on the shellguard 'cutlass' type sabres which have been shown as Spanish colonial of Caribbean and primarily South American origin.

The same feature is seen on espada's with flat, striated shells on their guard also known Spanish colonial, and of 18th century.

I would say these swords, noting they all have the characteristic hand nock in the grip, are well connected to this wide spectrum of colonial swords which have these features and trade blades and which includes the Spanish regions of Morocco.

This is an excellent example of how these often humbly regarded weapons help us in better understanding the historical scope of these regions, and the true purpose of the study of ethnographic weapons.

Turning to the well supported notes on Jewish craftsmen Ibrahiim has added, I would like to add that in Ethiopia that the Falashas , better known as Beta Israel, were the craftsmen who furbished weapons for the Amharic rulers and were of course essentially of the Jewish faith. In Morocco, the craftsmen producing arms were often Jewish, though I cannot recall their name. Many of these craftsmen accompanied trans Saharan caravans with the Hajj Pilgrims which travelled through these Ethiopian regions, which included Harar , the bustling entrepot which was key in Red Sea trade and on the way to Arabian destinations.

This is of course a most brief description only touching on the complexity of these networks and how extensively Jewish artisans were involved in many areas of material culture crafts, which extended far beyond simply silver work and jewelry. They were also prevalent in all manner of decorating and furbishing arms, their skills clearly covering North Africa, and into Arabia from their long ancestry in these in Andalusian Spain.

Salaams Jim, Excellent detail on the shell style guards and other researched detail...and certainly there is evidence of Spanish ships in the Indian Ocean...I wonder where this one originated ? You mentioned Jewish influence in Morocco ~Please see http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpa...017-1_gold.htm for a link to Moroccan Jewish involvement.

It seems to me that most of the Nimcha blades with some attachment to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean are from German and European sources. Is this simply a matter of trade blades being teamed up with hilts (of a Zanzibari Style) and scabbards (often with swirls in the leather Omani Style)? Buttin notes Arabian... rather than nominating a specific nation.

It seems the Billao style hilt pictured below is African ~Somalia. and very similar to the Nimcha on Buttins chart of that type.

Regarding the roughly made hilts ~Are we saying that the roughly knocked up versions are late Yemeni copies? (I would agree on that) These, therefor, could be something of a late red herring ... An entire shoal of them !!

The lavish VIP Ivory and Gold Hilt (with supporting comb) would appear to be Hilt and scabbard made in Zanzibar... blade European? or Hyderabad or Hadramaut?

In regarding all things Zanzibari it is worth pointing out the confusion even in maps... see below where "Zanguebar" fills a place between Mozambique and the Gulf of Aden ! It begs the question that if a weapon was described as coming from Zanzibar where, in fact, did that mean?

As you point out we are dealing with "sword networks" and unless we can be quite specific the description has to be entertained with a broad brush view.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by blue lander

Thank you Jim and Ibrahiim for providing context on that sword. I ended up not bidding on that one because I thought the fullers looked uneven. I assumed it was some indiginous imitation of a European blade. The seller had another sword that looks to be from the same source. It bears no resemblance to a nimcha, but I'm posting it here in case it sheds some light on their common origin.

While this one (post #82) seems to have the same simplistic munitions gestalt, the shape of the hilt is of course quite different from the familiar hand nocked hilt of the 'nimcha' group, which at this point in discussion includes those of the Arabian spheres as well as Spanish colonial.
The shape brings to mind earlier anomalies which reflected certain characteristics of both North African and Philippines/Indonesian influences.
I am attaching one of these with similar European cavalry type blade and a hilt shape vaguely resembling 'Spanish Main' swords we have ben discussing.
The simple guard on the posted example by Blue Lander seems to be of the almost vestigial guards used on Philippines items.

The strong connections trade and colonial between North Africa and Spains colonial sphere there via Mexico, Cuba, Central and South America westward to the Philippines and Indonesian contacts are complex but well established.
We have seen examples of parang from Sumatra with takouba blades and other such anomalous examples


Regarding the ivory and gold nimcha examples in posts #72 and #74 which show Zanzibar for provenance as well supported by other material culture motif, I think it is important to remember that these similarities are purely decorative. These do not apply to the structural and featured elements being considered as designators to Zanzibar attribution of hilt form.

[blue lander]

What do you make of the guard on the sword I posted? It's round like a dha but it seems to have the same thumb "knob" that you'd see on an European cavalry degen.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by blue lander

What do you make of the guard on the sword I posted? It's round like a dha but it seems to have the same thumb "knob" that you'd see on an European cavalry degen.

Sorry, I guess I didn't make my previous post clear. It seems to me this vestigial type guard on this hilt may be from the Philippines, and does not seem in any way North African nor Spanish colonial. That is the reason I mentioned the curious piece which had certain features recalling these 'Berber' type sabres, but only in nuanced sense. The idea I was trying to express is that in these trade networks these kinds of anomalies are of course going to occur, and accurately placing them is pretty unlikely without substantial provenance.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by blue lander

Thank you Jim and Ibrahiim for providing context on that sword. I ended up not bidding on that one because I thought the fullers looked uneven. I assumed it was some indiginous imitation of a European blade. The seller had another sword that looks to be from the same source. It bears no resemblance to a nimcha, but I'm posting it here in case it sheds some light on their common origin.

QUESTION: Is this sword presently at auction? or for sale?

[blue lander]

No, it must have ended weeks ago. I don't think anybody bought it though.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by blue lander

No, it must have ended weeks ago. I don't think anybody bought it though.

I am being advised that when these items do not sell in these particular auctions they are apparently automatically relisted. Did you check to ensure that neither of these two swords are presently listed in that auction?

While I very much appreciate the opportunity to see these items and use them in discussion, it is essential that we observe the rules here. For those reading who are not familiar, actually it is rule #1 (at the top of this page under the heading forum rules and regulations) which states items that are in current auctions or for sale are prohibited from being posted for discussion.

[blue lander]

You're right, I had no idea they had been relisted. My apologies. If a mod could delete the photos I'd appreciate it.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

It may be worth observing http://www.qucosa.de/fileadmin/data/..._02_athman.pdf for a comprehensive look at Swahili wood carving...which also mentions early settlers from North Africa...My search is aimed at identification of a Zanzibar Hub production centre (or not) for Nimcha hilts...

It seems apparent that the VIP style of Omani Zanzibari Ivory and Gold hilts were produced by artesans in Zanzibar, however, was there a manufacturing unit for the other well made sturdy Rosewood or Rhino Hilts with substantial ironwork guards?...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Some comparisons in the Pommel of two Zanzibari Nimcha ~ a decorative design which appears to be some sort of leaf design...perhaps a herb?... in silver.

Shown also is a rough hewn copy probably Yemeni of the same motiff...

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Please see http://badger.uvm.edu/omeka/exhibits...02010/item/574 for an interesting Nimcha said to be the work of a German sword maker called Schimmelbusch.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi