Tunisian or Libyan berber sword with scabbard

kronckew · 1st February 2024, 07:32 PM

I agree with Tvv.

The guard construction is not like any Nimcha I've seen. Indeed, 'rustic'. The embellishments look fairly well-made, tho. Definitely a NLO.
(Nimcha-Like Object) Or as the Auction Houses are fond of saying "in the style of a nimcha".

werecow · 2nd February 2024, 01:40 AM

Fair enough. I don't think I've ever seen a nimcha hilted sword attributed to Tunisia or Libya before so tbh if they do exist I would not know how to tell a real one from a fake.

Of course, the reason for posting it on this thread was primarily the stitching on the scabbard, which shows a stylistic similarity to the berber sword scabbards.

TVV · 2nd February 2024, 02:00 AM

I do not know if I would call it a fake, as that implies an intent to deceive. It may simply be a case of a modern attempt at "restoration".

1st February 2024, 07:32 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,263	I agree with Tvv. The guard construction is not like any Nimcha I've seen. Indeed, 'rustic'. The embellishments look fairly well-made, tho. Definitely a NLO. (Nimcha-Like Object) Or as the Auction Houses are fond of saying "in the style of a nimcha". Last edited by kronckew; 1st February 2024 at 08:24 PM.

2nd February 2024, 01:40 AM	#2
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 629	Fair enough. I don't think I've ever seen a nimcha hilted sword attributed to Tunisia or Libya before so tbh if they do exist I would not know how to tell a real one from a fake. Of course, the reason for posting it on this thread was primarily the stitching on the scabbard, which shows a stylistic similarity to the berber sword scabbards.

2nd February 2024, 02:00 AM	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,738	I do not know if I would call it a fake, as that implies an intent to deceive. It may simply be a case of a modern attempt at "restoration".