unknown sabre, possibly North Africa

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 26th June 2019, 08:31 PM

Reference..
A. https://www.bing.com/search?q=plaeid...ESR4N&pc=EUPP_

Full marks to Grendolino with this great example of The Seven Sisters star symbols better known as Pleiades or M45. Ref A above refers to much of the background at web on the star system and mythology. The German blade makers applied much Talisman for effect from astrology mainly the sun often with eyes nose mouth accompanied by fanciful rays.. and funniface moons. Peter Munch (Solingen)is credited with these under his name but a footnote also suggests these were not sword makers marks but applied purely as Talisman and quite at random. What may be seen on typical blades at thread are occasional locally applied marks perhaps to raise the price? On the other hand trade blades in the typical profile with heavy back blade and three deep fullers may well all originally have been star marked in Solingen. Other weapons must have also been so stamped...see below.

What is certain about the silver decoration on the example scabbard is its Yemeni origin as this is typical sand cast low quality silver often seen on Yemeni work.

Jim...Regarding the Big Dipper...The Plough or The Great Bear ...URSA MAJOR … I have avoided that but note its Chinese name and as you say the 7 wells etc and will place a post covering that situation but just to keep the two so called seven star constellations separate for the moment...

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 27th June 2019, 10:09 PM

[SIZE=4][SIZE=7][SIZE=6]Here an example of a completely different constellation The Plough or Big Dipper or Great Bear or URSA MAJOR but from the Chinese perspective. This star group famous as the pointer to Polaris or The North Star...

So below a Ming Dynasty Chinese sword with the main stars shaped in formation and inscribed on the blade top left.~

Naturally there are many interpretations of Ursa Major and although I am asked about the Chinese ..at the same time there are other fascinating accounts including Hindu and even North American Indian concepts worth viewing at https://howlingpixel.com/i-en/Ursa_Major

Staying with the Chinese concept please see https://www.chinasage.info/stars.htm from which I quote Quote'' The Great Bear is split into two constellations and is the seat of divine justice. The ‘Seven Stars’ in China can refer to sun; moon and the five major planets but also to Ursa Major ➚ (the Northern Dipper or Plow or Great Bear). The Great Bear appears directly overhead at times over parts of China and was therefore considered the center of the heavens. Known as 北斗 Běi dǒu ('Northern cup') in China it was represented as a red faced god who determining death and plays chess with the Southern Dipper. The seven stars of the dipper are important in Daoism and are often shown as august figures in pictures who can bring long life and wealth. In the ‘Flying Star’ system of Feng Shui it is these stars that determine good fortune. The Dipper has been used in the West to quickly find the pole star but the Chinese used other pairs of stars to find it, for example the stars in the constellation of Orion".Unquote

26th June 2019, 08:31 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Reference.. A. https://www.bing.com/search?q=plaeid...ESR4N&pc=EUPP_ Full marks to Grendolino with this great example of The Seven Sisters star symbols better known as Pleiades or M45. Ref A above refers to much of the background at web on the star system and mythology. The German blade makers applied much Talisman for effect from astrology mainly the sun often with eyes nose mouth accompanied by fanciful rays.. and funniface moons. Peter Munch (Solingen)is credited with these under his name but a footnote also suggests these were not sword makers marks but applied purely as Talisman and quite at random. What may be seen on typical blades at thread are occasional locally applied marks perhaps to raise the price? On the other hand trade blades in the typical profile with heavy back blade and three deep fullers may well all originally have been star marked in Solingen. Other weapons must have also been so stamped...see below. What is certain about the silver decoration on the example scabbard is its Yemeni origin as this is typical sand cast low quality silver often seen on Yemeni work. Jim...Regarding the Big Dipper...The Plough or The Great Bear ...URSA MAJOR … I have avoided that but note its Chinese name and as you say the 7 wells etc and will place a post covering that situation but just to keep the two so called seven star constellations separate for the moment... Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 26th June 2019 at 08:52 PM.

27th June 2019, 10:09 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	[SIZE=4][SIZE=7][SIZE=6]Here an example of a completely different constellation The Plough or Big Dipper or Great Bear or URSA MAJOR but from the Chinese perspective. This star group famous as the pointer to Polaris or The North Star... So below a Ming Dynasty Chinese sword with the main stars shaped in formation and inscribed on the blade top left.~ Naturally there are many interpretations of Ursa Major and although I am asked about the Chinese ..at the same time there are other fascinating accounts including Hindu and even North American Indian concepts worth viewing at https://howlingpixel.com/i-en/Ursa_Major Staying with the Chinese concept please see https://www.chinasage.info/stars.htm from which I quote Quote'' The Great Bear is split into two constellations and is the seat of divine justice. The ‘Seven Stars’ in China can refer to sun; moon and the five major planets but also to Ursa Major ➚ (the Northern Dipper or Plow or Great Bear). The Great Bear appears directly overhead at times over parts of China and was therefore considered the center of the heavens. Known as 北斗 Běi dǒu ('Northern cup') in China it was represented as a red faced god who determining death and plays chess with the Southern Dipper. The seven stars of the dipper are important in Daoism and are often shown as august figures in pictures who can bring long life and wealth. In the ‘Flying Star’ system of Feng Shui it is these stars that determine good fortune. The Dipper has been used in the West to quickly find the pole star but the Chinese used other pairs of stars to find it, for example the stars in the constellation of Orion".Unquote Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 27th June 2019 at 10:55 PM.