Strange ottoman handles

ariel · 12th February 2018, 09:06 PM

The similarity of the material and the riveting make me believe that most if not all handles were made at the same time and in the same shop.

YataganMan · 13th February 2018, 09:22 AM

Re Strange handles on Turkish Kiliches that are on display in Milan museum,I wish to advise these kiliches were produced in millions in 5 -6 centuries from 135o to late 1900s and some were fitted with rhino horns but most of them needed a regular supply that was easy to obtain.No rhino population in the world could could meet such a huge demand.Therefore the supplies came from RAMS which the Turks consumed extensively .These animals were raised in the plains and the slopes of north noth eastern Turkey(Erzurum, Kars area ).When fitted to swords They were all same color almost translucent light yellowish cream but in time sun shine, sweat and dirt changed this color to pink,red brown and dark brown. Regarding the absence of the rivets in late 1890-1900 + some makers used hidden rivets they were under the side plates, thıs is an indication of date of manufacture,Regards
Yataganman

Ian · 13th February 2018, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

The similarity of the material and the riveting make me believe that most if not all handles were made at the same time and in the same shop.

Sounds highly likely given the collection of features peculiar to most of these.

ariel · 14th February 2018, 11:50 AM

YataganMan:
Can you please show examples of the ram handles you describe: translucent, pink, shimmering?
If rams became the main source of material and kilijes were made in millions, finding a couple or two should not be a problem for you.
Thanks.

YataganMan · 14th February 2018, 07:37 PM

Dear Ariel,I can certainly show you pictures of what we have been talking about namely Ram hornes.But the only problem is I do not know how to post pictures . However I you would give me a mail adres I will be more than happy
to do so on the understanding you would put these pictures to Etnographic arms for the benefit of all members.For your convenience I am giving as down below my private mail adres.

altaytuzuner@gmail.com

please respond to this address.
Regards
Yataganman

ariel · 15th February 2018, 07:49 PM

I got an e-mail from YataganMan together with 5 photographs.
Here they are together with the text: I am sure we can learn a lot about the process of making horn handles. Regretfully, there are no examples closely resembling the Poldi Pezzoli ones, and I would like to get as many opinions as can be possible.
Thanks to YataganMan for the info and to all of you for your insights.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Ariel,First of all thank you for your speedy response,

I have tried to explain by the photos the way these handles were made and what process and what materials were used ,in addition I have tried to illustratehow much colors change over the years.
To begin with domestic ram horns are selected over various colors black ,green grays,mixed colors and are piled in open air to dry for a period of 1.5 -2 years.Then over charcoal fire they were partly melted ond turned into solid blocks (as you will know the rams horns are hollow inside all the way).Then selection is made to separate better pieces without cracks and other defects.There are various tints of white actualy there is no whites but creamy yellows and so on.It is then these blocks are flattened by a heat process.Finaly selected ones
are put inside a hot metal mould and pressed, The final result is that you will have various shades of grays creams yellows etc,It Is at this stage that after patination over the years the final color tint is detrmined.Not all horns go to brown some go to red and tints of red whilist
some go to grey and greens. For this reason I also attac a picture of diffent aged finished pieces demonstrating different colors.The way I looked at the pictures in the etnographic arms was that were the forms and propotions correct was the syle correct color did not all mattered since I know some handles were hand painted for some strange reasonI have seen a number of these in europe.I do hope my pictures will tell about the handles.
Regards
Yataganman

5 Attacments

David R · 15th February 2018, 10:10 PM

Many thanks to YataganMan for this.

14th February 2018, 07:37 PM	#5
YataganMan Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 14	Strange Kilich handles Dear Ariel,I can certainly show you pictures of what we have been talking about namely Ram hornes.But the only problem is I do not know how to post pictures . However I you would give me a mail adres I will be more than happy to do so on the understanding you would put these pictures to Etnographic arms for the benefit of all members.For your convenience I am giving as down below my private mail adres. altaytuzuner@gmail.com please respond to this address. Regards Yataganman

15th February 2018, 07:49 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I got an e-mail from YataganMan together with 5 photographs. Here they are together with the text: I am sure we can learn a lot about the process of making horn handles. Regretfully, there are no examples closely resembling the Poldi Pezzoli ones, and I would like to get as many opinions as can be possible. Thanks to YataganMan for the info and to all of you for your insights. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Ariel,First of all thank you for your speedy response, I have tried to explain by the photos the way these handles were made and what process and what materials were used ,in addition I have tried to illustratehow much colors change over the years. To begin with domestic ram horns are selected over various colors black ,green grays,mixed colors and are piled in open air to dry for a period of 1.5 -2 years.Then over charcoal fire they were partly melted ond turned into solid blocks (as you will know the rams horns are hollow inside all the way).Then selection is made to separate better pieces without cracks and other defects.There are various tints of white actualy there is no whites but creamy yellows and so on.It is then these blocks are flattened by a heat process.Finaly selected ones are put inside a hot metal mould and pressed, The final result is that you will have various shades of grays creams yellows etc,It Is at this stage that after patination over the years the final color tint is detrmined.Not all horns go to brown some go to red and tints of red whilist some go to grey and greens. For this reason I also attac a picture of diffent aged finished pieces demonstrating different colors.The way I looked at the pictures in the etnographic arms was that were the forms and propotions correct was the syle correct color did not all mattered since I know some handles were hand painted for some strange reasonI have seen a number of these in europe.I do hope my pictures will tell about the handles. Regards Yataganman 5 Attacments Attached Images

12th February 2018, 09:06 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The similarity of the material and the riveting make me believe that most if not all handles were made at the same time and in the same shop.

13th February 2018, 09:22 AM	#2
YataganMan Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 14	Re Strange handles on Turkish Kiliches that are on display in Milan museum,I wish to advise these kiliches were produced in millions in 5 -6 centuries from 135o to late 1900s and some were fitted with rhino horns but most of them needed a regular supply that was easy to obtain.No rhino population in the world could could meet such a huge demand.Therefore the supplies came from RAMS which the Turks consumed extensively .These animals were raised in the plains and the slopes of north noth eastern Turkey(Erzurum, Kars area ).When fitted to swords They were all same color almost translucent light yellowish cream but in time sun shine, sweat and dirt changed this color to pink,red brown and dark brown. Regarding the absence of the rivets in late 1890-1900 + some makers used hidden rivets they were under the side plates, thıs is an indication of date of manufacture,Regards Yataganman

14th February 2018, 11:50 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	YataganMan: Can you please show examples of the ram handles you describe: translucent, pink, shimmering? If rams became the main source of material and kilijes were made in millions, finding a couple or two should not be a problem for you. Thanks.

15th February 2018, 10:10 PM	#7
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Many thanks to YataganMan for this.