Caucasian dagger

ariel · 16th July 2016, 02:00 AM

Niello was brought to Bukhara by Caucasian masters who in turn learned enameling. But the motives are not Caucasian, IMHO. And the entire pattern, from the blade to the handle, does not scream Caucasian to me.

It has a semblance of tunkou, which is definitely not Caucasian.

Oliver Pinchot · 16th July 2016, 03:57 AM

The dagger is Persian, latter 18th century. At some point, it found its way to the Ottoman Empire where the hilt was reworked. The scabbard is Ottoman and was added in the latter 19th century. The engraved and nielloed silver mounts can, at their most essential, be called Circassian in style, however they've been so heavily conflated with Ottoman elements it's difficult to tell.
These daggers are not common but one does see them. When dated, the date is usually found on the reverse of the locket and falls in the 1870s-1890s.

ilias · 16th July 2016, 10:07 AM

Thank you all for your answers.
I am happily surprised!!!
I was confused by the shape of the blade and the scabbard decoration!
Thanks a lot again.

16th July 2016, 02:00 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Niello was brought to Bukhara by Caucasian masters who in turn learned enameling. But the motives are not Caucasian, IMHO. And the entire pattern, from the blade to the handle, does not scream Caucasian to me. It has a semblance of tunkou, which is definitely not Caucasian.

16th July 2016, 03:57 AM	#2
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 464	The dagger is Persian, latter 18th century. At some point, it found its way to the Ottoman Empire where the hilt was reworked. The scabbard is Ottoman and was added in the latter 19th century. The engraved and nielloed silver mounts can, at their most essential, be called Circassian in style, however they've been so heavily conflated with Ottoman elements it's difficult to tell. These daggers are not common but one does see them. When dated, the date is usually found on the reverse of the locket and falls in the 1870s-1890s.

16th July 2016, 10:07 AM	#3
ilias Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: GREECE Posts: 73	Thank you all for your answers. I am happily surprised!!! I was confused by the shape of the blade and the scabbard decoration! Thanks a lot again.