Maker's Mark ID Requested

[RobT]

Hi All,

Because this koummya appears to have a European blade, I was of two minds as to where to post my request. I decided on the ethnographic section rather than the European armory because that is where I usually post but, if the moderators feel I would be better served in the European section, it’s their call. Can anyone identify the maker’s mark?
I have provided a close up photo of the mark and, using that photo as a template, have also made a line drawing.
The mark is stamped on the side that would be worn next to the body and consists of a circle divided into quadrants. There is a six pointed star inside each quadrant. There is also a six pointed star at the x and y axis intersection. There also appears to be some sort of decoration on each of the radii but, due to imperfect stamping and/or corrosion, I can’t make any of them out. The edge of the circle has many tiny notches (something like the edge of a dime or quarter). I don’t know if the notches were made as a design feature or whether they were a result of the stamping process. On the other side of the blade, there is a odd patch of corrosion that may have been another maker’s mark but, if so, the pitting has so completely obliterated it that, even under 30X magnification, nothing discernible remains. (It is likely that, had it contained Christian symbolism, it would have been deliberately effaced as politically incorrect,)
The very nice blade is a bit more than 9.5 inches (24.1cm) as measured from the center of the blade at the ferrule to the tip. The rest of the ensemble, although rather old, is unremarkable. The sheath is brass. The hilt is incised wood with a brass ferrule, band and pommel. It would appear that the owner was a man of limited means who put his money into function rather than presentation.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Ian]

Hi Rob,

I understand your dilemma about where to post this one. Let's see how it goes here in the Ethno Forum, and if it's not getting the answers you are looking for we can move it over to the European Armoury.

Regards,

Ian.

[werecow]

I am operating in the dark but a google image search yields a lot of hits for things labeled "medieval crusader templar cross, Geza II" or similar.

[Ian]

There are several links to similar images for ceramics, textiles, wallpaper, etc. that refer to a pattern called "quadrostyle Moroccan starry night," which is similar to the pattern you show.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ian

There are several links to similar images for ceramics, textiles, wallpaper, etc. that refer to a pattern called "quadrostyle Moroccan starry night," which is similar to the pattern you show.

This is a great solution! Over the years it does seem that many markings and designs found in ethnographic material culture have been used in the forming of certain 'trademarks' found on various items including weapons. This is very much in the convention of trademarks and logos in the western world. Actually for example, the cintamani design found in Central Asian textiles is a device often used as a marking on weapons, just as the fibula and other devices used in the same manner. Many such designs or devices are considered amuletic protection in folk religion and superstition, so this might also be a possibility.

Given that the koummya is a distinctive form of janbiyya familiar throughout the Maghreb from Morocco to Algeria that has been prolifically produced commercially since the mid 19th century for the souvenir trade, there must have been marks like these indicating certain purveyors or suppliers .

In posts over the years one type of similar marking I recall in similar placement on koummya blades was a 'crusaders cross', which is a Greek cross with serifs, and it seems some had smaller crosses placed in the manner of these stars in quadrant.

The distinctively exotic style and character of the koummya seems to been a most common trope used in scenes requiring exotic character in late 19th into Edwardian periods, and even into films well into 20th century. While there is no doubt these were likely worn traditionally by the native peoples of these regions of Morocco and Algeria, the numbers of well made souvenir examples seem to have become most prevalent.

To me this does not diminish at all the character and attractiveness of these daggers, and they are IMO most desirable ethnographic edged weapons, especially the older examples like these.

[RobT]

Ian and Jim McDougall,
I couldn’t agree more that motifs are picked up by disparate cultures and repeated. The trick is finding the relevant source for the design. I am going to check out my copy of The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones’ to see if I can find just such a source. It’s a big book, so It may take some time.

werecow,
The image you have posted (plus others I have seen on line while searching for “templar cross”) look very close. The problem is that all of them are discernibly a cross. The crossed lines in my stamp look more like the x/y axis of a quadrant circle.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Marc M.]

Hi Rob
I can't help you further with the mark but great blade.
Regards
Marc

[RobT]

Thanks Marc M.,

I am partial to koummya with really good blades and buy them whenever they are affordable. Ironically, most of the really expensive koummya I see have very ornate sheaths and hilts with so-so blades. I have no trouble passing those up. The thing I find remarkable is that there is no scholarly research (at least none that I have found) for these iconic and very popular blades.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Marc M.]

Originally Posted by RobT

Thanks Marc M.,

I am partial to koummya with really good blades and buy them whenever they are affordable. Ironically, most of the really expensive koummya I see have very ornate sheaths and hilts with so-so blades. I have no trouble passing those up. The thing I find remarkable is that there is no scholarly research (at least none that I have found) for these iconic and very popular blades.

Sincerely,
RobT

Hi RobT
Like you, a good blade is the first thing I look for, not always obvious. Most koummyas made in the last decades are for those who travel, often high quality except for the blade. I have no idea when the day-to-day wearing of a koummya stopped but assume the tradition of wearing a koummya on certain occasions still exists. If you as a local want a new koummya then the outward appearance is more important than a good blade, more ornament than weapon. Photo of my simple koummya with a good steel blade, 3.6 mm thick at the handle and sharp.
Regards
Marc

[G. Mansfield]

Hi Rob, I have a koummya with the same stamp and have been trying to locate the origin as well. My speculation is that since these blades are well made compared to others I have seen and handled, the blade may be Spanish. The mark could be a Spanish maker or done locally in Morocco.

https://www.the-mansfield-collection...hanzer-koummya

-Geoffrey

[Ian]

Hello Geoffrey, Marc and Rob,

Three very fine khoummya. Thank you for sharing them here. Geoffrey's example has a very nice combination of silver and ivory for the fittings. Marc's plainer combination in brass is elegant. Rob's blade is excellent and seems to have some significant age. Quite a lot of variation in style and dress, which suggests to me different makers and perhaps different ages. The idea that this may be a Spanish mark seems worth pursuing. Perhaps some of our Spanish members might like to chip in on this one. If Rob likes, I can send this over to the Euro Forum.

Regards, Ian.

[RobT]

Geoffrey,
Did you post your request for information on the European forum? If not, maybe it is time to move this thread there. The fact that your koummya has the same stamp as mine is really significant. If we could find out the name of the maker who stamped the blades, we could very possibly find out when they were made, about how many were made and additional information about the maker. We may even be able to find out whether the maker just supplied blades or provided the entire ensemble (or both as per request of the buyer). Certainly, the humble dress on my example could have been made in North Africa but the regularity and symmetry of the decoration on your blade strongly suggests European manufacture. I wouldn’t be too quick to assume that the maker was Spanish though. Half of Morocco was owned by France (witness Rick’s Café Américain in Casablanca). In addition, Italian, German, and English makers all sold their wares in North Africa.

Marc,
Not only is your blade good, the hilt and sheath decorations are unique. Usually, the sheath is profusely engraved. I only have four koummya in my entire collection with plain sheaths. The lugs on your sheath are also noteworthy in that they appear to be heavy and well enough attached to stand up to frequent carry, Indeed, one lug shows significant wear. The sheath throat and hilt ferrule appear to be well done and the use of silver on those items carries over the sheath decoration nicely. The metalwork on the hilt is also well done and unique. I have never seen decoration quite like it.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Ian]

Over to the Euro Forum for further discussion.

[Jim McDougall]

Geoffrey, this koummya is fantastic! and I've seen your collection as catalogued and the photography, detailed descriptions and the scope of the collection is amazing. Thank you for your work in assembling it and sharing it with everyone.

I have not really spent much time studying koummya, but from Ive learned it seems there truly is little definitive work on these, at least as far as material in the west. It does seem that most of the examples circulating do come from the many souvenir items, however there are apparently outstanding examples such as these which served as important accoutrements of prestige and status among tribal figures.

Also, the fact that these are typically not 'old' as far as many of the vintage weapons we study, they are important as far as much of the history of the regions they come from.....the 'Rif Wars' of 1921-1926 being one of the major events.

May I ask,what does the term 'hanzer' refer to?

Also, while many hilts have rhino grips, what is the significance of camel bone used in many examples? There seems to be the talismanic connection to protection from the evil eye, just as I have seen noted with mention of the shape of the blade with resemblance to a boars tusk in similar manner.

Also, I have read that many of the blades on these are from earlier European swords, refashioned by blacksmiths in these Moroccan regions. It does seem possible that some had their own punzone or mark perhaps copying some European stamps or marks. I recall some koummya shown with crosses applied in similar fashion.

[G. Mansfield]

Rob, regarding koummya blades, it is often difficult to know if the blades are Moroccan or European as there is such a vast variety in style, quality, and stampings. I have seen ones marked with blades from London, Toledo, Coller Agader, the Seal of Solomun, the double eyelashes, crosses, horsemen, ect. Some of these stamps can be of European origin, while others can be copied and stamped into Moroccan blades in replication of earlier European stamps (Like nimcha stamps of early Italian and German trade swords). Others probably purely Moroccan. I really can’t tell, but the variety of stamps are interesting to say the least and not a whole lot of information regarding them.

Jim, thank you for your kind words, as always. The collection kept growing and it was a way to help share some of the examples rather than being hidden away. The 2020 book, “The Small Catalog of Moroccan and Algerian Edged Weapons” by Eric Claude is a good reference for North African weapons, including a large section on the koummya. Unfortunately, there is not a detailed description of these style of makers marks. In the book, Claude classifies multiple variations of hilt type, such as the gendarme hat, peacock tail, hanzer, and s’bula (Photo Attached). This is where the “hanzer” type is associated to that you ask about. I am unsure if this is the “formal” terminology, but it is certainly used by collectors and popularized today describing koummya hilt variations. The hilt material usually consists of wood, bovine horn, rhino, bone, and ivory sometimes adorned with brass, silver, gold, filigree, stones and enamel….probably associated with the owners wealth and status. I do not know of the significance of camel bone. The boar tusk shape that you mention is a reference to the “Lion Claw” or “Boars Tooth.” Claude states that those types were carried by the “makhzen” (dignitaries close to the black guard of the Sultan of Morocco. The black guard was founded by Yusuf Ibn Tashfin in 1088 and reorganized by Mouley Ismail at the end of the 17th century and continues to this day. The blades have a much stronger curvature compared to the standard koummya. Attached are photos of a lion claw example from the collection and another koummya in a more moderate decoration but showing the “crusader cross” stamp. Again, I am unsure of the makers mark here too. There are a few posts on this forum referencing the cross motif as the Cross of Saint James or Santiago and another related to the Moroccan figure Raisuni.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...an+sword+james

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=koummiya

https://www.the-mansfield-collection...aw-koummya-432

[Jim McDougall]

Geoffrey, thank you SO much for posting this valuable information! and again, your photography is fantastic. Your adding to all these links to pertinent threads from years ago has given me the chance to retrace so many discussions long forgotten that had valuable information.
It was quite a 'rabbit hole' !! but what amazing things were found.

As you say, there is not a great deal on these weapons, but the book you recommended by Eric Claude seems remarkable......I tried in vain to find a copy.....expensive but essential for anyone serious on this subject matter. '
Still , the information you have shared and what I found in the progression of threads has provided a fairly sound reference base. Most of the examples I found cited the pages in Eric Claude referred to.

Something I found in the threads regarding the crosses found as markings on some of the koummya seems important.

In the Berber tribal culture, it would seem that as noted Spanish symbology would be present in their use. In the Nasrid weaponry and material culture there are various uses of crosses in various configurations (a later example is the Cross of Santiago) and in cases aligned with the Islamic eight point star.

During the time of the Sharif,the Raissouli, in the early 20th c. it seems that there was notable alignment of course with the Islamic heritage of Spain, and specifically the sword of Boabdil, which had four crosses surrounding the Eight Point Star. It would seem the crosses seen on the groupings (or singular) marks seen on these koummya blades.

During the 'Rif Wars' (1921-1926) Raissouli aligned with Spanish forces as I understand, suggesting perhaps the Spanish element mentioned.

Could these crosses, more flourished than the simple crosses on the Boabdil sword hilt, be marks of key symbolism to the Berber clans under Raisouli?