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#1 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 910
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The pictures below are of inscriptions on each side of a fairly heavy axe blade. I would appreciate any translation and also your impressions on where and when the axe may have originated. I liked the axe when I first saw it and I bought it. Later, I began to think I had made a mistake and I relegated it to decorator status (meaning I still liked it even if I had made a mistake). Just recently I saw a very similar example in a museum case, which has tended to reaffirm my first impression.
![]() I will, in due course, show the whole blade and promise to share pictures of the one in the museum. But for now, I'd prefer not to prejudice you. |
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#2 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG)
Posts: 1,142
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![]() Quote:
![]() 1st pic;The Shahada, the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as his prophet "Lā ilaha illal-Lāh, Muhammadun rasūlula-Lāh" either “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God" 2nd pic; "Al Fath" (The Victory) surate 48 verse 1 either; Verily We have granted thee a manifest Victory: you get it ![]() à + Dom (temporary from Laurel - MA - USA) |
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#3 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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Welcome to my home state Dom !
We have very nice beaches on Cape Cod . ![]() Rick |
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#4 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 910
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My thanks, Dom, for your help with understanding the inscriptions. Does the style of the calligraphy give any suggestion of origin?
Below are the promised pictures of both faces of the axe. I apologize for leaving a scale out of the photographs, from the hammer head to the center edge measures 23.5 cm and from horn to horn in a straight line is 24 cm. The overall mass is 2.6 kg, including a plain wooden haft. The blade of the axe is surprisingly dull and about 1.5 mm thick. Also, I get the impression that the decoration was applied after and around the gash on the socket in the top picture and was similarly applied over a scraped depressed area on the blade face in the bottom picture. Over the socket there is a representation of a live bird which appears to be standing over a dead bird. Do you know what this references? I have e-mailed the department in the museum where I saw a very similar axe requesting any further information they can provide about the provenance of their example and I am awaiting their reply... In the meantime, does anyone want to stick their neck out (no, not over the block) and propose an attribution before I share my museum observations? |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG)
Posts: 1,142
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the calligraphy don't give any information,
as far as is purely religious mentions, it's obligatory in Arabic language, even if the country of origin is not arabic speakers, e.i.; Persia, India due to what is mentionned on above no ideas from where it's could come from ![]() without to take a big risk (I'm ready to put one nail on the block under the blade) it's Indo-Persian ![]() even more Indo than Persan ![]() now I leave the place to my collegues, who could have their appreciations ![]() |
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#6 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 910
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Dom, I appreciate your courage in stepping forward! Your conclusion of "Indo-Persian, even more Indo than Persian" is exactly what I had come to think about this axe, and like you, I was not really very comfortable with that attribution.
In due course I had consigned it in my mind as "eccentric Indian Raj-era souvenir." Of course, the considerable weight would be the opposite of what one would expect from this attribution and the decoration might also be a bit too restrained. And, of course, the very plain wooden handle would also not fit this scenario. Dull would be consistent, however. I had also wondered about it being made as an executioner's axe - the mass would be good for that - but then dull becomes a big problem. And, of course, with the help of your translations, such a purpose would appear to be inconsistent with the inscriptions. Needless to say, I suppose, is that the museum's attribution for their very similar axe is "none of those above." I am still waiting to hear back from them as to any information they might have on the provenance of their example and I will use that as an excuse to see if any other forum members develop the courage to put a fingernail forth... |
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