Makers mark on 19th century 'star and comet' Kaskara blade

Oliver Pinchot · 15th February 2025, 12:44 AM

The unusual engraved mark on the kaskara blade pictured is a simplification of the Ottoman tughra. When oriented properly it is quite clear.

Jim McDougall · 15th February 2025, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

The unusual engraved mark on the kaskara blade pictured is a simplification of the Ottoman tughra. When oriented properly it is quite clear.

Resoundingly observed Oliver!!
It is amazing this has not been notably considered, and not surprising that you would recognize this instantly, so thank you so much for this entry!

This would align with the religious and geo-political circumstances from Libya into Egypt and Sudan in the years just prior to WWI, German and Ottoman intrigue courting the Sanusiyya. This was a conservative Sufi brotherhood of Sunni Islam as I have understood, and there were close alignments with the Ottomans.
The tughra is of course in itself a stylized type of device honorarily assigned to prominent individuals.

It seems that in tribal symbolism, the markings applied to blades have varied significance which apply to power, magic, talismanic imbuement etc.
These 'enigma' marks seem to be likely noting the importance of tughra marks seen on Ottoman items.

Briggs(1965) notes that these 'enigma' marks on blades occurred on the blades of important Tuareg chiefs in Air during the Kaocen Revolt but had been seen in these regions earlier. Ottoman influences and the Senussi brotherhood seem likely inspirations for these stylized representations of tughra. Versions of these are likely to have diffused to the kaskara in Darfur in degree via the Senussi conduit in those pre WWI years.

Thanks again Oliver for this compelling observation, and hope my explanation in accord might be plausible support.

Oliver Pinchot · 15th February 2025, 07:04 PM

Well explicated, Jim.
The connection is fairly simple-- the dominant Islamic culture in that region for centuries was the Ottoman. As I discussed in On the Persian Shamshir (2001, available here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20604) , pictograms gradually overtook inscriptions in importance on blades in Islamic cultures. This happened for a variety of reasons: in the case of Persian blades, I showed that lion marks evolved in recognition of an Assad Allah brand (which had more traditionally been inscribed in Arabic characters,) intended for a largely illiterate clientele. With Sudanese blades, however, the adoption (and adaptation) of the tugra to local owners was a simple matter of association with Ottoman authority and thus, power. Incidentally, on the topic of literacy, research would probably show that a large percentage of the Mahdi's followers were literate, certainly among his chiefs/ officers.

Jim McDougall · 15th February 2025, 07:43 PM

Thank you Oliver!
I well recall that article on the Assad Allah pictogram on the Persian trade blades, which was brilliant and a most important reference in the study of these notable blades.

As noted, these kinds of symbolic devices became well known as seen on many North African swords, especially it seems on kaskara as these swords became most important in status and religious affirmation in Sudan and Darfur in the latter 19th century.

The toughra in this case, rather than being a traditionally appointed device is more of a trope signifying power and authority as noted. The use of other important symbols or markings also use that convention, for example the familiar cross and orb mark from German blades was often seen as a drum and sticks, an important symbol of a chief or tribal leader often copied onto Sudanese blades.

Clearly the importance observed toward these kinds of marks whether Ottoman or European alluded to power and essentially imbued magic into the blade of the sword.

Such symbolism would not require literacy as a symbol is a subjectively understood device which would be recognized to the initiated accordingly, as you have pointed out.

Thank you again very much for responding on this!! and its great talking with you again, its been a minute

Oliver Pinchot · 15th February 2025, 07:52 PM

More like two, even three

15th February 2025, 12:44 AM	#1
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 465	Mark on kaskara blade The unusual engraved mark on the kaskara blade pictured is a simplification of the Ottoman tughra. When oriented properly it is quite clear.

15th February 2025, 07:04 PM	#3
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 465	Well explicated, Jim. The connection is fairly simple-- the dominant Islamic culture in that region for centuries was the Ottoman. As I discussed in On the Persian Shamshir (2001, available here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20604) , pictograms gradually overtook inscriptions in importance on blades in Islamic cultures. This happened for a variety of reasons: in the case of Persian blades, I showed that lion marks evolved in recognition of an Assad Allah brand (which had more traditionally been inscribed in Arabic characters,) intended for a largely illiterate clientele. With Sudanese blades, however, the adoption (and adaptation) of the tugra to local owners was a simple matter of association with Ottoman authority and thus, power. Incidentally, on the topic of literacy, research would probably show that a large percentage of the Mahdi's followers were literate, certainly among his chiefs/ officers.

15th February 2025, 07:43 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Thank you Oliver! I well recall that article on the Assad Allah pictogram on the Persian trade blades, which was brilliant and a most important reference in the study of these notable blades. As noted, these kinds of symbolic devices became well known as seen on many North African swords, especially it seems on kaskara as these swords became most important in status and religious affirmation in Sudan and Darfur in the latter 19th century. The toughra in this case, rather than being a traditionally appointed device is more of a trope signifying power and authority as noted. The use of other important symbols or markings also use that convention, for example the familiar cross and orb mark from German blades was often seen as a drum and sticks, an important symbol of a chief or tribal leader often copied onto Sudanese blades. Clearly the importance observed toward these kinds of marks whether Ottoman or European alluded to power and essentially imbued magic into the blade of the sword. Such symbolism would not require literacy as a symbol is a subjectively understood device which would be recognized to the initiated accordingly, as you have pointed out. Thank you again very much for responding on this!! and its great talking with you again, its been a minute

15th February 2025, 07:52 PM	#5
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 465	More like two, even three