Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 26th March 2012, 11:17 PM   #1
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default Assib Zabidi Jambiya from Yemen For Comment

Just picked this up on eBay seems an interesting example .

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300682045730...9#ht_665wt_922
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th March 2012, 11:18 PM   #2
kahnjar1
Member
 
kahnjar1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,728
Default

Hi Lew,
Very nice piece by the look of it.
Not Meccan IMHO but an Assib Zabidi Jambiya from Yemen. Style also refered to as Jizan. I have attached a pic of a Meccan Jambiya on a belt and also a Jizan jambiya similar to your one. As you will see the style is quite different.
Regards Stu
Attached Images
  

Last edited by kahnjar1; 26th March 2012 at 11:30 PM.
kahnjar1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th March 2012, 11:28 PM   #3
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Your too quick Stuart . Click on the above link.
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th March 2012, 11:30 PM   #4
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,132
Default

What a nice piece. I like Yemanese T-topped pieces like this, especially with lots of silver work and granulation.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27th March 2012, 05:44 AM   #5
Steve
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 58
Default

Hi Lew,
I thought that was you who scored the jambiya.Thats good. I should have had a go myself but I'm getting a bit lazy. I'd be interested in your opinion on a few items when you receive and can handle the jambiya - if you don't mind?

Firstly,you've probably noticed but the silver decoration on the face of the curved section on the scabbard is different one side to the other. First time I've seen this. Do you think its a repair?

Secondly, there are some elements of the silverwork that look as though they have been cast, or partially cast and then decorated.???

Lastly, do you think the blade, with the "Queen of Sheba" inscription is a good quality forge or a cheaper version ( the seller, I think, said a good quality, heavy blade?)? I have only ever seen these inscriptions on a lighter weight blade and I'm interested as to whether the inscribing was done on any blade or just from a few , or maybe only one,particular workshop.

Thanks Lew for your considered opinion when you receive the dagger.
Steve
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27th March 2012, 10:00 AM   #6
A.alnakkas
Member
 
A.alnakkas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 1,336
Default

Nice one Lew, I was watching this one. Hesitated because I am broke :P

Like Steve, I think the scabbard has some repair on it. Here are similar examples in my collection:
Attached Images
    
A.alnakkas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th March 2012, 12:11 PM   #7
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Steve

To answer your questions. Looking at the photos I see nothing that would leave to believe the scabbard was repaired. Yes I do think it has been partially cast and the blade is less stout than the ones on my older jambiya but it still a nice example.

Lew

I'll try and get you some detailed pics when it arrives in a few days.
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th March 2012, 07:32 AM   #8
Steve
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 58
Default

Thanks Lew, your jambiya has some interesting elements. Offspring of the Arifis - Yemens largest silver making family today - have been using a lost wax process for making scabbards, as well as other attachments for the jambiya belt, for a few generations now.
I look forward to the pictures,
Steve
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th March 2012, 09:46 PM   #9
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Hi Steve

The jambiya arrived today and it's quite nice . Worked on polishing it up for about an hour. The blade is middle of the road quality the engravings are quite nice. The scabbard and seem to be a combo of cast work and some hand work.
Just a few odd dings and dents and that is to expected.


Lew
Attached Images
  

Last edited by Lew; 30th March 2012 at 03:11 PM.
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th March 2012, 09:55 AM   #10
A.alnakkas
Member
 
A.alnakkas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 1,336
Default

Nice one Lew, Glad you got it! is there any stamp at the back or a coin with makers name??
A.alnakkas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th March 2012, 11:13 AM   #11
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by A.alnakkas
Nice one Lew, Glad you got it! is there any stamp at the back or a coin with makers name??
Just some small holes where something seemed to be attached .
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30th March 2012, 11:20 AM   #12
A.alnakkas
Member
 
A.alnakkas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 1,336
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lew
Just some small holes where something seemed to be attached .
Alright, sometimes these come with a small silver coin with maker's name or a star of David (with maker's name inside) I'll show some pictures soon.
A.alnakkas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st March 2012, 10:43 PM   #13
Steve
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 58
Default

Thanks Lew, I think you've got yourself an interesting piece. It all seems to go together well and the inscribed blade and split decorations are a good story.
The swirl decorations on the scabbard strip seems to be hand work only and I was wondering if they were applied because there was a problem with the casting, or maybe just that was the way the cast was made, or some silversmith wanted to try a different idea. Maybe a trial piece.
Anyway, not your normal jambiya.
Thanks again,
Steve
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1st April 2012, 12:30 PM   #14
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default

Steve

You may be correct about that they had problems with the casting. On closer inspection I did notice that that hand applied section of the scabbard has more irregularities than the upper part. So it may have been an attempt at a repair .


Lew

Last edited by Lew; 4th April 2012 at 01:53 AM.
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.