Yataghans:bibliography and identification

[mankova]

In referring to yataghans' origin, do you mean as specifically to classification of the examples in the book as to regional attribution?

Don't really know yet... I'm already searching for similar examples (form and the year) to see where are they mostly from and it really looks balkan. Especially those rivets on the light hilt with pretty large ears and leaf-shaped decoration of the blade.

Do you know this page? It;s a catalogue of THE ARMS AND ARMOURY COLLECTION from Croatian History Museum in Zagreb
http://jatagani.hismus.hr/webe/hld/katknj.htm

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by mankova

Don't really know yet... I'm already searching for similar examples (form and the year) to see where are they mostly from and it really looks balkan. Especially those rivets on the light hilt with pretty large ears and leaf-shaped decoration of the blade.

Do you know this page? It;s a catalogue of THE ARMS AND ARMOURY COLLECTION from Croatian History Museum in Zagreb
http://jatagani.hismus.hr/webe/hld/katknj.htm

Actually I had not seen this, and it is most impressive as well as it appears quite comprehensive.
I am sure you are familiar with the late Professor Zdzislaw Zygulski, who was one of your greatest scholars of arms and armour. Of his many great works, he wrote "Islamic Weapons in Polish Collections and Their Provenance" (in "Islamic Arms & Armour", ed. Robert Elgood, 1979).
He was of course curator of the famed Czartoryski Museum until his passing in 2015.

I am glad to see these two yataghans being conserved, and to see this sincere approach to their history as well as more on the history of this weapon form overall.
The best thing about restoration of weapons in these conservatory conditions is that it is done carefully and with appropriate restraint as possible. That is to preserve patination and focus on stabilizing any corrosion or active deterioration and replacing components only as necessary.

[mankova]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I am sure you are familiar with the late Professor Zdzislaw Zygulski, who was one of your greatest scholars of arms and armour. Of his many great works, he wrote "Islamic Weapons in Polish Collections and Their Provenance" (in "Islamic Arms & Armour", ed. Robert Elgood, 1979).
He was of course curator of the famed Czartoryski Museum until his passing in 2015.

Yes, even after his death, he's still a great authority. I have few of his books He was teaching at my university, but i was too young to know him.

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I am glad to see these two yataghans being conserved, and to see this sincere approach to their history as well as more on the history of this weapon form overall.
The best thing about restoration of weapons in these conservatory conditions is that it is done carefully and with appropriate restraint as possible. That is to preserve patination and focus on stabilizing any corrosion or active deterioration and replacing components only as necessary.

I will add some photos in progress and after conservation They belong to the museum, and they age, patina must be preserved. It's also very important to stabilize corrosion process like You said. Not only the final effect, but whole process is the very best part of this work


Independently from the conservation process, i will make some trials with old techniques in non-antique materials. I think it's a good way to know yataghans better
I really enjoy casting metals, sculpting in various materials, so this might be another very developing experience.


I'm very excited

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by mankova

Yes, even after his death, he's still a great authority. I have few of his books He was teaching at my university, but i was too young to know him.



I will add some photos in progress and after conservation They belong to the museum, and they age, patina must be preserved. It's also very important to stabilize corrosion process like You said. Not only the final effect, but whole process is the very best part of this work


Independently from the conservation process, i will make some trials with old techniques in non-antique materials. I think it's a good way to know yataghans better
I really enjoy casting metals, sculpting in various materials, so this might be another very developing experience.


I'm very excited

Thank you so much for the kind response Mankova.
Professor Zygulski indeed remains a magnificent authority, and I will never forget his thoughtfulness in answering queries personally in research I was working on many years ago. His work remains legion in his fields of study.

I very much look forward to your progress on these restorations, and any updates on your research on yataghans.

[grendolino]

I did offer some help from a nearby. Please read the messages i've sent or write a mail to grendolino@wp.pl.