Bedouin? Saber

RobT · 2nd January 2022, 03:30 PM

David & Ren Ren,

Thanks so much for the information. Since I have only seen the stitching technique on kindjals, I didn't know it was so widespread. I will add this to my database.

Sincerely,
RobT

ariel · 3rd January 2022, 04:34 AM

I am not surprized at all by the appearance of wire stirch on the scabbards of Bedouin Sabers.
This stitch was endemic all over the Ottoman Empire. Sinai and Negev, the origins of those sabers, were included in the Ottomans borders until 1918.
We see such stitch on the scabbards from Syria, Iraq , Aravia etc. Thus, it presence on the scabbards from Sinai and Negev is almost expected.

I did not know about such stitch in Kazan, but its active trade with Crimean Khanate ( vassal state of the Ottoman Empire), and, likely, directly with the Ottomans may explain it. That likely continued even after 1552, when Kazan fell to Ivan The Terrible who slaughtered ~110,000 of its inhabitants, and the entire Kazan Khanate became part of Russian Empire.

Ren Ren · 3rd January 2022, 12:06 PM

It is in vain that you did not get acquainted with Sattarova's publications. Leather production flourished in the Volga Bulgaria long before the Kazan khans and continued under the Moscow tsars and Russian emperors. The 10th century Arabic author Al-Muqaddasi wrote about the famous Bulgari leather. Birch tar and "ворвань" - the fat of seals and walruses, obtained on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, were used in the manufacture of this type of leather. This made it unique and famous from Mongolia to Western Europe.

The photo shows a sample of "Kazan work" - a pair of luxurious traditional Tatar boots "ichigi". From Kazan, they were sold throughout Russia, as well as to Bukhara and other Central Asian states. Pay attention to the "Kazan stitching" or "Tatar stitching".

ariel · 3rd January 2022, 02:08 PM

Beautiful !
Do they still manufacture such boots in Tatarstan ? We would be talking about many thousands $$$ per pair. There are Air Jordans and Nikes selling for $ 1 million.
The market is ready.

2nd January 2022, 03:30 PM	#1
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 551	This Forum Is Fantastic David & Ren Ren, Thanks so much for the information. Since I have only seen the stitching technique on kindjals, I didn't know it was so widespread. I will add this to my database. Sincerely, RobT

3rd January 2022, 04:34 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I am not surprized at all by the appearance of wire stirch on the scabbards of Bedouin Sabers. This stitch was endemic all over the Ottoman Empire. Sinai and Negev, the origins of those sabers, were included in the Ottomans borders until 1918. We see such stitch on the scabbards from Syria, Iraq , Aravia etc. Thus, it presence on the scabbards from Sinai and Negev is almost expected. I did not know about such stitch in Kazan, but its active trade with Crimean Khanate ( vassal state of the Ottoman Empire), and, likely, directly with the Ottomans may explain it. That likely continued even after 1552, when Kazan fell to Ivan The Terrible who slaughtered ~110,000 of its inhabitants, and the entire Kazan Khanate became part of Russian Empire. Last edited by ariel; 3rd January 2022 at 09:00 AM.

3rd January 2022, 12:06 PM	#3
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	It is in vain that you did not get acquainted with Sattarova's publications. Leather production flourished in the Volga Bulgaria long before the Kazan khans and continued under the Moscow tsars and Russian emperors. The 10th century Arabic author Al-Muqaddasi wrote about the famous Bulgari leather. Birch tar and "ворвань" - the fat of seals and walruses, obtained on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, were used in the manufacture of this type of leather. This made it unique and famous from Mongolia to Western Europe. The photo shows a sample of "Kazan work" - a pair of luxurious traditional Tatar boots "ichigi". From Kazan, they were sold throughout Russia, as well as to Bukhara and other Central Asian states. Pay attention to the "Kazan stitching" or "Tatar stitching". Attached Images

3rd January 2022, 02:08 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Beautiful ! Do they still manufacture such boots in Tatarstan ? We would be talking about many thousands $$$ per pair. There are Air Jordans and Nikes selling for $ 1 million. The market is ready.