Questions about Tabar axe

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

On the question as to if they were battle or parade items ...I think over time they were both but looking at the David Collection at https://www.davidmus.dk/en/collectio...ar/art/12-1979 and I note;

Quote“Blows were dealt with battle-axes tabar-i-zin, clubs, and swords. A red mist rose from the river.”
(Firdawsi, Shahnama, 10th century)" Unquote.

Certainly the Qajar Dynasty which only ended in about 1923 adds to the concept that axes were for parade work...Earlier, however, (though I still search for more facts ) it appears that Saddle Axes were meant as the antidote to Cavalry in heavy armour which were effective against swords were susceptible to a blow from a Saddle Axe...

What is interesting is what appears to be an early form of battle axe called a Parashu...which I will place in a fresh post.

Here is an axe from the David collection, they label this axe as a "parade weapon", this is a common mistake, there is absolutely no reason to assume that this axe is anything other than a weapon, just because it is decorated and has velvet on the haft does not take away from its ability as a weapon. Wealthy warriors / potentates of every culture owned and used these highly decorated weapons, it was expected of them.

Battle-axe, iron and gold damascening
India; c. 1800
H: 55; L: 13.1 cm
The short, elegant battle-axe (tabar-i-zin) comes from the Persian region, where it was already part of a horseman’s equipment in the early Islamic period. Not all battle-axes were velvet-clad parade weapons like this one, however.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Here is an axe from the David collection, they label this axe as a "parade weapon", this is a common mistake, there is absolutely no reason to assume that this axe is anything other than a weapon, just because it is decorated and has velvet on the haft does not take away from its ability as a weapon. Wealthy warriors / potentates of every culture owned and used these highly decorated weapons, it was expected of them.

Battle-axe, iron and gold damascening
India; c. 1800
H: 55; L: 13.1 cm
The short, elegant battle-axe (tabar-i-zin) comes from the Persian region, where it was already part of a horseman’s equipment in the early Islamic period. Not all battle-axes were velvet-clad parade weapons like this one, however.

Yes you are correct ... That is the weapon I was referencing in my last post but the perception is in the eyes of the reader where it is easy to be misled since it suggests it is only for Parade whilst of course it is also a weapon. The problem developed as heavy cavalry clad in masses of armour declined coinciding in the late Qajar period and the parade nature of these great armies..

In respect of Post 20 and 24. and the Project axe at #1

In the late 19th and early 20th C a lot of copies were made in European centres where French must be the obvious suggested manufacturing point...bearing in mind the expo nature of French industry at the time. I feel the item looks "new" whilst chipped on one corner no other ageing is present in my view. Therefor I suggest the replica nature of this blade, although, it is a reasonable styling of Indo/ Persian form my feeling is it is a reproduction for one of the French exhibitions.

[Drabant1701]

While browsing Herman Historica auctions this socked war hammer caught my eye: http://www.hermann-historica.de/db2_...on65/aw65.html

If you look at the shaft and tassle it looks identical to the ones one the axe that
from *1 that is discussed in this thread. Here is the intresting part. They claim that the hammer was made for the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Siege of Vienna for an exhibition in Warsaw 1883. Now if there is any truth to that I do not know, it would however support the theory that these kind of parade weapons would be manufactured in the late 19th cemtury.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

While browsing Herman Historica auctions this socked war hammer caught my eye: http://www.hermann-historica.de/db2_...on65/aw65.html

If you look at the shaft and tassle it looks identical to the ones one the axe that
from *1 that is discussed in this thread. Here is the intresting part. They claim that the hammer was made for the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Siege of Vienna for an exhibition in Warsaw 1883. Now if there is any truth to that I do not know, it would however support the theory that these kind of parade weapons would be manufactured in the late 19th cemtury.

Good find, I had this picture and discription on my Pinterest site, forgot all about it. The question remains....who exactly made these types of display weapons and in what country were they made.


Ottoman war hammer, crafted hollow iron hammer head with rich ornamental silver work on both sides. Wooden shaft, silver chased and engraved shaft sleeve decorated with leaf tendrils. Quality-crafted replica of an Ottoman horsemans hammer from the 17th century. This copy was made in 1883 on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the siege of Vienna, made ​​for an exhibition in Warsaw. Length 94.5 cm.