A little Sahel/Maghreb panoply...

CharlesS · 21st October 2013, 03:07 PM

Here is another group of daggers similar to Iain's. I have been collecting these since 1999. I think they are stunningly artful, elegant, and exotic, and ....yet, that said, they remain quite a bit of a mystery. As Iain has noted they are attributed to the Sahel/Maghreb and Senegal, but I have never been able to actually pinpoint their origin or, for that matter, even a correct ethnographic name for them. Perhaps some of the other collectors of African ethnographic arms are more can help us here.

With little collector interest in them and the relative rarity with which they show up, they have just not garnered much attention.

The two examples to the left are more recent, probably 1950 or later. The others are older, likely early 20th century.

Iain · 21st October 2013, 03:18 PM

I remembered I'd seen a stamp featuring one of these; attached.

Great collection Charles! They really are some of the most artistic and unique daggers out there. I've seen some online with very ornate blade cut-outs as well.

The rounded finials on some of your pommels remind me of Manding sword pommels. Perhaps there is a connection. I have never seen well documented Wolof weaponry, so it could be an element of that as well.

And thanks to all who keep posting very kind comments about the collection pieces I've been showing. I really appreciate it and love to be able to show off the older examples of the takouba form and dispel some of the notions of the sword type being flimsy.

CharlesS · 21st October 2013, 03:34 PM

Hi Iain,

That's stamp probably goes further in pinpointing the origin of these than anything else I have seen on paper!! Now if we could only acquire the correct regional name for these??!!

What a great find and thanks for sharing!

Iain · 22nd October 2013, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Hi Iain,

That's stamp probably goes further in pinpointing the origin of these than anything else I have seen on paper!! Now if we could only acquire the correct regional name for these??!!

What a great find and thanks for sharing!

I had a bit of a look last night, but didn't turn up anything yet. If there is a record it's likely going to be in French I think. Sadly not a language I get on particularly well with!

Iain · 27th October 2013, 03:45 PM

It's a nice afternoon here and I was bored, so another group shot just for fun. This time focused on the flat native blade type.

Sadly I have the one brass hilt in this pic with the presentation face of the guard not showing and I forgot to put another one into the shot.

Iain · 23rd November 2013, 01:25 PM

Just another one that came in the post yesterday.

Photos aren't all that great, wife took the good camera out for the day and I was stuck using my mobile phone.

The blade on this one is a rather poor local one. Not a particularly convincing combat weapon, but the hilt is very nice. The grip is unusually a wood core and the pommel is exceptionally large.

Typical rustic imitations of the half moon marks and narrow little decorative fullers. There's a bit of flex to the blade, but it seems to be a local iron product and is not very sharp.

AhmedH · 23rd November 2013, 02:21 PM

Dear Iain,

Thanks a lot for posting this. The swords are very good looking, and I'm a die-hard fan of straight double-edged swords. But could you please talk more about them? From which centuries do their blades date? The date of their hilts? Please tell us more; as I find myself interested in knowing more about those swords.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Ahmed Helal Hussein

21st October 2013, 03:07 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Here is another group of daggers similar to Iain's. I have been collecting these since 1999. I think they are stunningly artful, elegant, and exotic, and ....yet, that said, they remain quite a bit of a mystery. As Iain has noted they are attributed to the Sahel/Maghreb and Senegal, but I have never been able to actually pinpoint their origin or, for that matter, even a correct ethnographic name for them. Perhaps some of the other collectors of African ethnographic arms are more can help us here. With little collector interest in them and the relative rarity with which they show up, they have just not garnered much attention. The two examples to the left are more recent, probably 1950 or later. The others are older, likely early 20th century. Attached Images

21st October 2013, 03:18 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	I remembered I'd seen a stamp featuring one of these; attached. Great collection Charles! They really are some of the most artistic and unique daggers out there. I've seen some online with very ornate blade cut-outs as well. The rounded finials on some of your pommels remind me of Manding sword pommels. Perhaps there is a connection. I have never seen well documented Wolof weaponry, so it could be an element of that as well. And thanks to all who keep posting very kind comments about the collection pieces I've been showing. I really appreciate it and love to be able to show off the older examples of the takouba form and dispel some of the notions of the sword type being flimsy. Attached Images

27th October 2013, 03:45 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	It's a nice afternoon here and I was bored, so another group shot just for fun. This time focused on the flat native blade type. Sadly I have the one brass hilt in this pic with the presentation face of the guard not showing and I forgot to put another one into the shot. Attached Images Last edited by Iain; 27th October 2013 at 04:32 PM. Reason: grammar

23rd November 2013, 01:25 PM	#6
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Just another one that came in the post yesterday. Photos aren't all that great, wife took the good camera out for the day and I was stuck using my mobile phone. The blade on this one is a rather poor local one. Not a particularly convincing combat weapon, but the hilt is very nice. The grip is unusually a wood core and the pommel is exceptionally large. Typical rustic imitations of the half moon marks and narrow little decorative fullers. There's a bit of flex to the blade, but it seems to be a local iron product and is not very sharp. Attached Images

21st October 2013, 03:34 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Hi Iain, That's stamp probably goes further in pinpointing the origin of these than anything else I have seen on paper!! Now if we could only acquire the correct regional name for these??!! What a great find and thanks for sharing!

23rd November 2013, 02:21 PM	#7
AhmedH Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Cairo, Egypt. Posts: 142	Dear Iain, Thanks a lot for posting this. The swords are very good looking, and I'm a die-hard fan of straight double-edged swords. But could you please talk more about them? From which centuries do their blades date? The date of their hilts? Please tell us more; as I find myself interested in knowing more about those swords. Thanks a lot in advance. Ahmed Helal Hussein