An Uzbek pichaq for comment and request for translation of inscription

ariel · 8th June 2020, 12:09 PM

Yes, 1279.
If so, it is 1862-63 Gregorian.

High class knife, congratulations.
In that part of the world sophisticated weapons were made more likely by Tajiks. The great Khanates were gradually conquered by nomadic Mongols starting in the 11th century. However, the conquered urban populations were highly cultured native Persia- related Tajiks who were the professionals. If so, the master would likely called this knife a Kord. Wootz blade suggests Persian tradition and Ann Feuerbach found archeological evidence of wootz production in the area.
The entire area was conquered by the Russians in 1864-68. Yours may be one of the latest examples of the pre-conquest era.
For some reasons we attribute local weapons to Bukhara, but forget about other great centers: Khorezm, Samarkand, Khiva, Kokand. There must have been local differences in decoration, but we have no good way of distinguishing between them. The inscription pinpoints it to Kokand.

Splendid example!

Gavin Nugent · 8th June 2020, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

The entire area was conquered by the Russians in 1864-68. Yours may be one of the latest examples of the pre-conquest era.
For some reasons we attribute local weapons to Bukhara, but forget about other great centers: Khorezm, Samarkand, Khiva, Kokand. There must have been local differences in decoration, but we have no good way of distinguishing between them.

Splendid example!

Splendid points Ariel.

My memory fails me at the moment but one of these regions did favour Niello much more than most... I wish I could put my finger on it...

Gavin

ariel · 8th June 2020, 12:30 PM

Kokand was the ultimate Tajik area: mountainous eastern part of the land, adjacent to Fergana Valley, that’s where the victorious Uzbeks displaced the Tajiks.

Peter Andeweg · 8th June 2020, 01:05 PM

Good thing to see the blade was not cut down. I once had a Greek bichaq which was a cut down yataghan blade and it reminded me. I could not clearly see the tip of your example, so that's why I mentioned.

1862 is a very plausible date.

Peter

8th June 2020, 12:09 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yes, 1279. If so, it is 1862-63 Gregorian. High class knife, congratulations. In that part of the world sophisticated weapons were made more likely by Tajiks. The great Khanates were gradually conquered by nomadic Mongols starting in the 11th century. However, the conquered urban populations were highly cultured native Persia- related Tajiks who were the professionals. If so, the master would likely called this knife a Kord. Wootz blade suggests Persian tradition and Ann Feuerbach found archeological evidence of wootz production in the area. The entire area was conquered by the Russians in 1864-68. Yours may be one of the latest examples of the pre-conquest era. For some reasons we attribute local weapons to Bukhara, but forget about other great centers: Khorezm, Samarkand, Khiva, Kokand. There must have been local differences in decoration, but we have no good way of distinguishing between them. The inscription pinpoints it to Kokand. Splendid example!

8th June 2020, 12:30 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Kokand was the ultimate Tajik area: mountainous eastern part of the land, adjacent to Fergana Valley, that’s where the victorious Uzbeks displaced the Tajiks.

8th June 2020, 01:05 PM	#4
Peter Andeweg Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Vlissingen, Netherlands Posts: 71	Good thing to see the blade was not cut down. I once had a Greek bichaq which was a cut down yataghan blade and it reminded me. I could not clearly see the tip of your example, so that's why I mentioned. 1862 is a very plausible date. Peter