Tuareg Dagger

Luc LEFEBVRE · 17th October 2012, 05:53 PM

Here a Tuareg dagger, 29cm, brass handle with copper inlays.
2 asymetric "ears" as cross guard.
A little box, maybe for a coranic charm ? What do you think ?

Sajen · 17th October 2012, 06:22 PM

It is not the area of my collection but I like this Tuareg dagger very much, it is a beauty.

Regards,

Detlef

VANDOO · 17th October 2012, 07:15 PM

A VERY ELEGANT LITTLE DAGGER. IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FOUND ART AS WELL AS A DAGGER. BY FOUND ART I MEAN QUITE A VARIETY OF FOUND PARTS WERE USED IN FASHONING THIS DAGGER HANDLE. THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON BUT THIS EXAMPLE CAME TOGETHER MUCH MORE PLEASING THAN MANY I HAVE SEEN. I LIKE IT.

Iain · 18th October 2012, 10:23 PM

Very interesting piece. I have never seen much information on how old some of these Tuareg pieces are. I am really only more familiar with the more typical teleks and other arm daggers.

It is certainly very well made and beautiful.

Jim McDougall · 19th October 2012, 12:50 AM

Extremely interesting piece, and reflecting some European influence in the alternating quillon terminal discs and perhaps some crenellation or scallop in the vestigially raised crossguard. The stacked type pommel corresponds to certain Tuareg pommel examples but cant recall specifics.

Most interesting is what indeed appears to be an amuletic enclosure, a rare feature as far as I am aware on weapons in general of these North African regions. It is typical for individuals to wear small containers with script on folded or rolled paper with devotional and talismanic invocations, usually around neck if I understand correctly. Weapons will often have of course various markings and motif imbuing talismanic and protective powers in the weapon and for the warrior, and this appears variant.

Need to look for corresponding style, the markings seem characteristic with Saharan weapons, and the use of copper and brass is talismanic in and of itself.

Iain · 20th October 2012, 03:12 PM

Hi Jim,

Well noted on the use of talismans - normally carried in pouches I believe as you said. As can been seen in the photo I'm attaching.

The stacked design of the pommel does indeed reflect the stacked pommels encountered on takouba and the construction seems similar as well with two halves to the pommel. Same goes for the use of brass and copper.

The crossguard is a bit odd - but the variety seen in these daggers is a bit overwhelming at times. In a lot of ways this reminds me of the style of daggers in a photo I'm attaching.

Identified by Spring as: ( from left to right ) : 1. Manding dagger from the Bissagos Islands ; 2. Sierra Leone ; 3. Senegal ; 4. Reguibat Arab, S Morrocco .

Luc LEFEBVRE · 20th October 2012, 11:44 PM

Good work guys ! Thanks.

17th October 2012, 05:53 PM	#1
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Tuareg Dagger Here a Tuareg dagger, 29cm, brass handle with copper inlays. 2 asymetric "ears" as cross guard. A little box, maybe for a coranic charm ? What do you think ? Attached Images

20th October 2012, 03:12 PM	#6
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Hi Jim, Well noted on the use of talismans - normally carried in pouches I believe as you said. As can been seen in the photo I'm attaching. The stacked design of the pommel does indeed reflect the stacked pommels encountered on takouba and the construction seems similar as well with two halves to the pommel. Same goes for the use of brass and copper. The crossguard is a bit odd - but the variety seen in these daggers is a bit overwhelming at times. In a lot of ways this reminds me of the style of daggers in a photo I'm attaching. Identified by Spring as: ( from left to right ) : 1. Manding dagger from the Bissagos Islands ; 2. Sierra Leone ; 3. Senegal ; 4. Reguibat Arab, S Morrocco . Attached Images

17th October 2012, 06:22 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,416	It is not the area of my collection but I like this Tuareg dagger very much, it is a beauty. Regards, Detlef

17th October 2012, 07:15 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A VERY ELEGANT LITTLE DAGGER. IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FOUND ART AS WELL AS A DAGGER. BY FOUND ART I MEAN QUITE A VARIETY OF FOUND PARTS WERE USED IN FASHONING THIS DAGGER HANDLE. THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON BUT THIS EXAMPLE CAME TOGETHER MUCH MORE PLEASING THAN MANY I HAVE SEEN. I LIKE IT.

18th October 2012, 10:23 PM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Very interesting piece. I have never seen much information on how old some of these Tuareg pieces are. I am really only more familiar with the more typical teleks and other arm daggers. It is certainly very well made and beautiful.

19th October 2012, 12:50 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	Extremely interesting piece, and reflecting some European influence in the alternating quillon terminal discs and perhaps some crenellation or scallop in the vestigially raised crossguard. The stacked type pommel corresponds to certain Tuareg pommel examples but cant recall specifics. Most interesting is what indeed appears to be an amuletic enclosure, a rare feature as far as I am aware on weapons in general of these North African regions. It is typical for individuals to wear small containers with script on folded or rolled paper with devotional and talismanic invocations, usually around neck if I understand correctly. Weapons will often have of course various markings and motif imbuing talismanic and protective powers in the weapon and for the warrior, and this appears variant. Need to look for corresponding style, the markings seem characteristic with Saharan weapons, and the use of copper and brass is talismanic in and of itself.

20th October 2012, 11:44 PM	#7
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Good work guys ! Thanks.