Khevsurian sword

Kurt · 21st July 2012, 10:14 AM

Have a question, this is a Khevsurian sword? Or does it have another name. Best, Kurt

ariel · 21st July 2012, 12:09 PM

I know I am barging in, and I do not want to steal the thunder from Kiziria, but I am just happening to sit in front of the screen:-)

I think that Kurt's saber is not Khevsurian, but Kartli/Kakheti, ie strictly Georgian one. This is with full understanding that Khevsureti is a part of Georgian cultural domain, but has very local flavor due to their geographic isolation and just local peculiarities.

BTW, Kiziria may correct me,but I cannot recall any Khevsurian sword with abundance of silver: they were pretty poor, and brass was the usual material, with occasional silver decorations on the handle. Also, and again IMHO, Khevsurian scabbard fittings are never traditional 3-piece beauties, but rather multiple simple brass circular bands.

Kiziria, am I far away from the truth?

Kiziria · 21st July 2012, 11:34 PM

Hi, Kurt ! Thank you for wonderful pictures. Really nice item here.
Ariel pretty much answered to your question so I have nothing to add really.
If you make closer shot at stamp we might read it and know the name of the maker, maybe even the year of making. The stamp itself might be from Tbilisi craftsman, cant say for sure based on pictures only.
Thank you again!

Kiziria · 22nd July 2012, 01:48 AM

“barging in” is only welcome dear Ariel ! And you are absolutely correct about saber that Kurt displayed, it is definitely not a Khevsurian type but of Kartli/Kaheti region which we can judge by the construction of the handle and niello pattern on the silver plates of scabbard and scabbard itself.
About your question. Nither me nor my colleagues have seen many of silver plated swords from Khevsurety.
True that most common type of khevsurian scabbard seen today and well known by collectioners is leather on wood that fortified partially by brass plates. Yet there are few examples that compleately covered in brass ( in this case embellished with chiseling or embossed) or completely covered in silver plate ( in this case embellished with niello ). Ither it could be considered as traditional as other known type of corse remain a question. The oldest example atributed to 1860th or about that time.
The silver scabbard and sword that I had displayed on top is one of 2 that belong to Likokeli family from Likokeli glen (Likokis temi in Georgian) and were made by Likokeli masters.( Present owner David Likokeli however does not continue family tradition). Likokelis swords are of special interest because these masters had kept distinct style for blade making as well as for pattern motives on silver. I will find and post later an axample of their signature blade, which might be helpful for attribution.
There are other fully clad in silver or brass scabbards that could be attributed to works of other old smith families that claimed its authorship namely Arabuli, Mindikauri or Chincharauli , but work of establishing it is not finished, because those items are not in Khevsurety but in provide collections. Hopefully in the end we will be able to say exactly which work is done by what master. So far there only 9 such swords are located. It is a really small number but we hope to locate more.
They probably were never produced in big numbers partly due to the fact that not every one could afford it. Also it had been suggested by a collegue that silver wears quikly against chainmail shirt so silver plated scabbards probably never could become a common choice. ( arguable in my opinion)
I would add also that khevsur type swords – palashes and sabers never being demanded outside the Khevsurety unlike another type known as Caucasian shashka that was prodused in great numbers so we find nowadays so many great examples of such work.

Kiziria · 22nd July 2012, 02:32 AM

Hello Jim! Glad to hear from you.
There are enough of both types of pictures ,those that were staged at the studio or even outside and those that had been taken in real locations. Each year more pictures surface up from various sources –local museums, family archives. There yet more information to uncover. I always keep my eyes open

as well as for written materials. Have I mentioned memoirs I found this time ? Traveling notes by the scetchist painter that was with Russian regiments during Caucasian operations and witnessed some curious customs of Tushin and Khevsuriam militia regiments?
Interesting psychological study of the time ha ha ha

Kiziria · 22nd July 2012, 03:22 AM

I doubt that any such work will turn up occasionaly since it is very rear , but just in case here are the following.
"likokeli blade"
Note the kind of oval made of two semicirkles facing each oter and joined in figure (dont remember the name of such figure in English). Note that curves of "oval" are smooth unlike "eyelashes" that are distinct for "gorda" blades. This "ovals" tilted and arranged in a row runs along the blade length and end up where "sashari" or double edged shurpened tongue of the blade began.
Above is distinctevly Likokelis signature work.

VK

Kurt · 22nd July 2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiziria

Hi, Kurt ! Thank you for wonderful pictures. Really nice item here.
Ariel pretty much answered to your question so I have nothing to add really.
If you make closer shot at stamp we might read it and know the name of the maker, maybe even the year of making. The stamp itself might be from Tbilisi craftsman, cant say for sure based on pictures only.
Thank you again!

Hi Kiziria ,
Guess you're right with Tbilisi.

Best
Kurt

21st July 2012, 10:14 AM	#1
Kurt Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 197	Khevsurian sword ? Have a question, this is a Khevsurian sword? Or does it have another name. Best, Kurt Attached Images

21st July 2012, 11:34 PM	#3
Kiziria Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 26	verry nice item Kurt Hi, Kurt ! Thank you for wonderful pictures. Really nice item here. Ariel pretty much answered to your question so I have nothing to add really. If you make closer shot at stamp we might read it and know the name of the maker, maybe even the year of making. The stamp itself might be from Tbilisi craftsman, cant say for sure based on pictures only. Thank you again!

22nd July 2012, 01:48 AM	#4
Kiziria Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 26	“barging in” is only welcome dear Ariel ! And you are absolutely correct about saber that Kurt displayed, it is definitely not a Khevsurian type but of Kartli/Kaheti region which we can judge by the construction of the handle and niello pattern on the silver plates of scabbard and scabbard itself. About your question. Nither me nor my colleagues have seen many of silver plated swords from Khevsurety. True that most common type of khevsurian scabbard seen today and well known by collectioners is leather on wood that fortified partially by brass plates. Yet there are few examples that compleately covered in brass ( in this case embellished with chiseling or embossed) or completely covered in silver plate ( in this case embellished with niello ). Ither it could be considered as traditional as other known type of corse remain a question. The oldest example atributed to 1860th or about that time. The silver scabbard and sword that I had displayed on top is one of 2 that belong to Likokeli family from Likokeli glen (Likokis temi in Georgian) and were made by Likokeli masters.( Present owner David Likokeli however does not continue family tradition). Likokelis swords are of special interest because these masters had kept distinct style for blade making as well as for pattern motives on silver. I will find and post later an axample of their signature blade, which might be helpful for attribution. There are other fully clad in silver or brass scabbards that could be attributed to works of other old smith families that claimed its authorship namely Arabuli, Mindikauri or Chincharauli , but work of establishing it is not finished, because those items are not in Khevsurety but in provide collections. Hopefully in the end we will be able to say exactly which work is done by what master. So far there only 9 such swords are located. It is a really small number but we hope to locate more. They probably were never produced in big numbers partly due to the fact that not every one could afford it. Also it had been suggested by a collegue that silver wears quikly against chainmail shirt so silver plated scabbards probably never could become a common choice. ( arguable in my opinion) I would add also that khevsur type swords – palashes and sabers never being demanded outside the Khevsurety unlike another type known as Caucasian shashka that was prodused in great numbers so we find nowadays so many great examples of such work. Last edited by Kiziria; 22nd July 2012 at 02:56 AM.

22nd July 2012, 03:22 AM	#6
Kiziria Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 26	I doubt that any such work will turn up occasionaly since it is very rear , but just in case here are the following. "likokeli blade" Note the kind of oval made of two semicirkles facing each oter and joined in figure (dont remember the name of such figure in English). Note that curves of "oval" are smooth unlike "eyelashes" that are distinct for "gorda" blades. This "ovals" tilted and arranged in a row runs along the blade length and end up where "sashari" or double edged shurpened tongue of the blade began. Above is distinctevly Likokelis signature work. VK Attached Images Last edited by Kiziria; 22nd July 2012 at 03:48 AM.

21st July 2012, 12:09 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I know I am barging in, and I do not want to steal the thunder from Kiziria, but I am just happening to sit in front of the screen:-) I think that Kurt's saber is not Khevsurian, but Kartli/Kakheti, ie strictly Georgian one. This is with full understanding that Khevsureti is a part of Georgian cultural domain, but has very local flavor due to their geographic isolation and just local peculiarities. BTW, Kiziria may correct me,but I cannot recall any Khevsurian sword with abundance of silver: they were pretty poor, and brass was the usual material, with occasional silver decorations on the handle. Also, and again IMHO, Khevsurian scabbard fittings are never traditional 3-piece beauties, but rather multiple simple brass circular bands. Kiziria, am I far away from the truth?

22nd July 2012, 02:32 AM	#5
Kiziria Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 26	Hello Jim! Glad to hear from you. There are enough of both types of pictures ,those that were staged at the studio or even outside and those that had been taken in real locations. Each year more pictures surface up from various sources –local museums, family archives. There yet more information to uncover. I always keep my eyes open as well as for written materials. Have I mentioned memoirs I found this time ? Traveling notes by the scetchist painter that was with Russian regiments during Caucasian operations and witnessed some curious customs of Tushin and Khevsuriam militia regiments? Interesting psychological study of the time ha ha ha