Bosnian Bichaq Comments/Help?

Rumpel · 26th February 2010, 05:18 PM

As promised/threatened, here's that Bosnian bichaq, again with execrable cameraphone pictures. I'll edit the thread once I find my camera's USB cable...

There's a maker's mark, or date, which I'd be extremely grateful for help with. I couldn't achieve a decent focus on it, so a drawing will follow in the next post.

The bichaq looks identical to that on p.45 of this book: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=T...age&q=&f=false

Rumpel · 26th February 2010, 05:22 PM

As you can see, a career in Arabic calligraphy does not await me...

The blobs on the handle are silver-inlaid designs like six-spoked cartwheels.

Battara · 27th February 2010, 07:20 PM

Looks like it is made of brass and brown horn. It is from Sarayevo and Serbian.

ariel · 27th February 2010, 10:39 PM

Sarajevo is in Bosnia

Jim McDougall · 27th February 2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Sarajevo is in Bosnia

Arent there a considerable number of Serbs in Sarajevo as well as in other Bosnian regions?

Battara · 28th February 2010, 12:00 AM

Oh yes that is why I did not say "Serbia" but Serbian.

TVV · 1st March 2010, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Looks like it is made of brass and brown horn. It is from Sarayevo and Serbian.

Jose,

Why the Sarajevo attribution?

Thank you,
Teodor

Battara · 1st March 2010, 05:23 PM

I have seen several of these with silver koftgari on the blades that spell Sarayevo and a 19th century date.

TVV · 1st March 2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I have seen several of these with silver koftgari on the blades that spell Sarayevo and a 19th century date.

I have seen a lot with the Sarajevo name on the blade as well (I still have one), and some with Foca, but they have all been different from this one in the following manner:
1. Bone handles, instead of horn.
2. No fullering
3. Different blade profile - the subject of this thread has a blade that tapers to a much more accute point than the usual.
4. No bolster that continues at the base of the blade.

Apart from the scabbard, which may be a replacement/mismatch, this really does not look like a typical Bosnian bichaq. This is why I was intrigued by the Sarajevo attribution and was hoping that there were other, provenanced examples.

Myself, I have no idea where it could be from, apart from the very borad Balkans or Turkey attribution, and I am not sure it is Bosnian, though it may be.

Regards,
Teodor

26th February 2010, 05:18 PM	#1
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	Bosnian Bichaq Comments/Help? As promised/threatened, here's that Bosnian bichaq, again with execrable cameraphone pictures. I'll edit the thread once I find my camera's USB cable... There's a maker's mark, or date, which I'd be extremely grateful for help with. I couldn't achieve a decent focus on it, so a drawing will follow in the next post. The bichaq looks identical to that on p.45 of this book: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=T...age&q=&f=false Attached Images

26th February 2010, 05:22 PM	#2
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	As you can see, a career in Arabic calligraphy does not await me... The blobs on the handle are silver-inlaid designs like six-spoked cartwheels. Attached Images

27th February 2010, 07:20 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,200	Looks like it is made of brass and brown horn. It is from Sarayevo and Serbian.

27th February 2010, 10:39 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Sarajevo is in Bosnia

28th February 2010, 12:00 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,200	Oh yes that is why I did not say "Serbia" but Serbian.

1st March 2010, 05:23 PM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,200	I have seen several of these with silver koftgari on the blades that spell Sarayevo and a 19th century date.