Yemen Jambiya?

fernando · 27th September 2009, 05:48 PM

I am surprised

I always thought that the engraving on the handle reverse was the owner's name, made by the maker, in the act of selling the piece to a client.
Am i definitely wrong?
Fernando

ward · 27th September 2009, 06:44 PM

I would say makers name is correct. I have a yemani powder flask that has hebrew all along the top that no one has been able to translate. You might want to check with Artzi on the translation.

fernando · 27th September 2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

I would say makers name is correct. I have a yemani powder flask that has hebrew all along the top that no one has been able to translate. You might want to check with Artzi on the translation.

This time i was referring to the dotted Arabic engraving on the handle pommel, not the the Hebrew symbols near the blade.

ward · 27th September 2009, 07:00 PM

Sorry The Arabic on this piece I believe refers to the owner. You are correct.

Oriental-Arms · 27th September 2009, 07:06 PM

The Hebrew letters does not make much sense. The letters are: ALEF, LAMED, yOD, NOON, HET and the last one is not clear. it might be sound like ELINAH ???, might be name, or the first three letters might sound as ELI - which means MY GOD.

ariel · 27th September 2009, 07:52 PM

The second one looks like Beth/Veth to me: there is a horizontal line at the bottom.
Still, I cannot guess what it means.
Avi- noakh?

ward · 27th September 2009, 09:06 PM

The problem with hebrew and arabic is that it is often written as in this case without voweling. So on top of figuring out the actual letters that are present, than you have to know what vowels to add to the word. I would think in this instance a name would be the most likely, but admit the one we translated to may not be correct. A religous inscription seems doubtful.

fernando · 27th September 2009, 10:19 PM

Thank you Artzi,
Thank you Ariel,
So i see it is quite complex. I will be digesting your sugestions.
Toda raba

.

I see your point Ward, in that it wouldn't be a religious allegory but, instead, the discreet engraving of the silver smith name. I have read somewhere that Hebrew smiths in Yemen (Temani) were allowed to craft janbiyya hilts but not the blades.

Fernando

27th September 2009, 05:48 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Maker's name or owner's name ? I am surprised I always thought that the engraving on the handle reverse was the owner's name, made by the maker, in the act of selling the piece to a client. Am i definitely wrong? Fernando

27th September 2009, 07:06 PM	#5
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Hebrew Translation The Hebrew letters does not make much sense. The letters are: ALEF, LAMED, yOD, NOON, HET and the last one is not clear. it might be sound like ELINAH ???, might be name, or the first three letters might sound as ELI - which means MY GOD.

27th September 2009, 10:19 PM	#8
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you Artzi, Thank you Ariel, So i see it is quite complex. I will be digesting your sugestions. Toda raba . I see your point Ward, in that it wouldn't be a religious allegory but, instead, the discreet engraving of the silver smith name. I have read somewhere that Hebrew smiths in Yemen (Temani) were allowed to craft janbiyya hilts but not the blades. Fernando Last edited by fernando; 27th September 2009 at 10:42 PM.

27th September 2009, 06:44 PM	#2
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	I would say makers name is correct. I have a yemani powder flask that has hebrew all along the top that no one has been able to translate. You might want to check with Artzi on the translation.

27th September 2009, 07:00 PM	#4
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Sorry The Arabic on this piece I believe refers to the owner. You are correct.

27th September 2009, 07:52 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The second one looks like Beth/Veth to me: there is a horizontal line at the bottom. Still, I cannot guess what it means. Avi- noakh?

27th September 2009, 09:06 PM	#7
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	The problem with hebrew and arabic is that it is often written as in this case without voweling. So on top of figuring out the actual letters that are present, than you have to know what vowels to add to the word. I would think in this instance a name would be the most likely, but admit the one we translated to may not be correct. A religous inscription seems doubtful.