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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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I haven't posted anything new in a while.
So, gentlemen ( and ladies, if Tatiana drops by), here is my new baby. We have discussed them briefly in the past, and our discussions had a range of contributions from an amusing assertion that Baluch and Baloch were different people to Erik's wonderful picture that nailed down the attribution of these shamshirs to Sindh/ Baluchistan. In brief: complete with intact scabbard and baldric, Persian wootz blade signed by Muhammad Yusuf Misri (" the Egyptian") as per seller, silver, turquoise, chasing ... in short, the works. I am very happy: was looking for one of those for a long time and finally got one of a very high quality. Isn't she pretty? Just adorable:-) |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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I continue for a while.
How would we date it? My guess 19th century, but Kwiatek can be able to fish out additional info from the stamp. |
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#3 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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I usually don't get into this form of shamshir, but Ariel this is a great example! I love the complete mounts and the extra stones in it. The ring on the hilt is a nice touch. The other mounts and the cloth accoutrements are wonderful. Nice wootz blade too.
Are there clearer close ups of the top of the hilt? Thanks for sharing this piece with us! |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,614
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Happy New Year Ariel, and congratulations on this excellent acquisition. This is as nice as it can get and I actually liked it more than some other shamshirs that sold for more at the auction, so I think you did really well. I cannot recall others with the original baldric nicely preserved like this.
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,903
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Happy New Year!
Wow! ![]() |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 181
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That is a very nice sword. A sword that complete is a rare find.
Congratulations! |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 244
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Great Shamshir.
That is a rich present to yourself, ariel. |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 936
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Ariel, an impressive shamshir. The baldric is awesome. It'd be interesting to hear the opinions on dating, hopefully Kwiatek and others will have more insights. Also, you mentioned Sindh and Baluchistan, and so it is Pakistani, not Indian, right?
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#9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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My best guess it dates to the 19th century.
History of Balochistan is complex. Balochistan belonged to Afghanistan, but eastern Balochistan was captured by Nader Shah and became part of Iran. After the fall of Durrani dynasty, Balochistan became factually independent, but in the 1870s and especially after the second Afghani war it became part of British India with the exception of Gwadar that belonged to Oman. After the great division of British India in 1948 it was captured by Pakistan. Gwadar was sold to Pakistan in 1958, but even now about a third of Omanis are descendants of Baloch immigrants. Thus, and using our current geography it may be “ Baloch”, “Afghani” Indian”, “Pakistani” or “ Omani”. Since I place it in the 19th century it could not have been Pakistani: Pakistan did not exist yet. IMHO, the most correct one would be “Indian” or “Omani”. Further hairsplitting: since these swords are usually attributed(!) to Hyderabad in Sindh, we could attribute it to British India. Although, had it been made before the infamous “ Peccavi” ( I have sinned) by general Napier in 1843, we should call it Sindhi. Go figure.... However, geography and history aside, it carries both “Indian” and Omani features.. Thus, as we have discussed earlier, we can call it Baloch, Hyderabadi, Sindhi, Indo-Arab etc. I love these mixes, both geographical and repurposed:-) |
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,145
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Let me add Thus, and using our current geography it may be “ Baloch”, "Farsi", “Afghani” Indian”, “Pakistani” or “ Omani”. Thus, as we have discussed earlier, we can call it Baloch, Hyderabadi, Sindhi, Indo-Arab Indo-Persian etc. When you look at the sword: blade, quillons, pommel, leather on the scabbard, the Persian influence is obvious... ![]() |
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#11 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 936
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