help identifying writing system

ham · 28th March 2006, 06:28 PM

Fernando,

Yes, MADE IN TUNIS is quite clear now, you've done a very nice job bringing out the silverwork. The second digit from the left is, strictly speaking, a "5"
but with the addition of a short tail on the right it would be a "9" much like our own. Now, seeing it clean and legible, I suspect the craftsman inlaid the numerals to reflect an earlier date, yet one which could still be read as the actual one contextually. These inscriptions are really a holistic process-- the sum of the whole truly is greater than its parts. Neither the use of the term "san'at" ("crafted") nor the phrase in which it appears, "Crafted In Tunis" are at all characteristic of period maker's inscriptions. This refelcts a great deal of Western influence, in my opinion (i.e. Made in Paris or Made in Rome.)
The pistol certainly is 19th century. As we have discussed, it is the silverwork which is more recent.

BJ akhi,
Shuf, andek email

Ham

28th March 2006, 06:28 PM	#19
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	Fernando, Yes, MADE IN TUNIS is quite clear now, you've done a very nice job bringing out the silverwork. The second digit from the left is, strictly speaking, a "5" but with the addition of a short tail on the right it would be a "9" much like our own. Now, seeing it clean and legible, I suspect the craftsman inlaid the numerals to reflect an earlier date, yet one which could still be read as the actual one contextually. These inscriptions are really a holistic process-- the sum of the whole truly is greater than its parts. Neither the use of the term "san'at" ("crafted") nor the phrase in which it appears, "Crafted In Tunis" are at all characteristic of period maker's inscriptions. This refelcts a great deal of Western influence, in my opinion (i.e. Made in Paris or Made in Rome.) The pistol certainly is 19th century. As we have discussed, it is the silverwork which is more recent. BJ akhi, Shuf, andek email Ham Last edited by ham; 29th March 2006 at 07:56 AM.