balkan kindjal!?

ivan ivanov · 25th September 2006, 06:04 PM

does anyone know more(basic) info for this kindjal?it looks similar to those from the caucasian region,but im not sure beacose it is found somewhere at the Balkans...thanks

ariel · 25th September 2006, 08:58 PM

OOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
It sure is very, very unusual and very, very pretty!
Please show close-ups of the blade, handle, markings, scabbard decorations, in short--- everything!

Rivkin · 25th September 2006, 09:31 PM

Very unusual indeed. I would classify the metalwork on the scabbard as Ottoman, usually comes from northwest Turkey or even Armenia. The "column" like hilt is the first one I have seen.

ariel · 26th September 2006, 12:09 AM

Ottomans had a technique of decorating their daggers with plain silver sheets. Perhaps, one of the most elegant approaches. The "column" is the first one I've seen.
The blade needs to be gently cleaned.
I would take it to a good jeweller who can do laser welding and try to restore the silverwork. I am usually not into extensive alterations but in this case the amount of work is minimal, the geshtalt of the decoraton is absolutely clear and it will only restore the original beauty rather than reshape it.
Very beautiful! You should be proud of your find and take good care of it!

Battara · 26th September 2006, 07:58 PM

Instead of silver, I might suggest white metal - I can see areas of green oxidation - signs of the presence of high concentrations of copper, like that in white metal.

TVV · 28th September 2006, 10:45 AM

Privet Ivane,
Great to see nice things still being discovered in Bulgaria. As suggested earlier, can you please post some better pictures of the blade? The thin sheat on the scabbard and the hilt and scabbard decoration deffinitely suggest Balkans, although the blade may be older and from the Caucasus. Can you have a goldsmith perform an undestructive test to determine whether the white metal is indeed silver or something else? The amswer to this question may greatly help with dating. As a caveat, there is some high quality work nowadays in Bulgaria.
Regards,
Teodor

Rivkin · 28th September 2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

The thin sheat on the scabbard and the hilt and scabbard decoration deffinitely suggest Balkans, although the blade may be older and from the Caucasus.

Not being a specialist on Bulgaria, attached is what always believed to be a typical late Ottoman, probably Trabzon(?) work. I have half a dozen photos like this, all covered with sheets of white metal and quite similar engravings.

Valjhun · 28th September 2006, 04:38 PM

Rivkin,

Yes you're right the kindjal you posted is from Trabzon/Surmene area. I have a short with identica decoration on the blade.

The blakan silver/brass scabbard covers are even more thin, just like the kindjal on the first post.

25th September 2006, 06:04 PM	#1
ivan ivanov Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1	balkan kindjal!? does anyone know more(basic) info for this kindjal?it looks similar to those from the caucasian region,but im not sure beacose it is found somewhere at the Balkans...thanks Attached Images

25th September 2006, 08:58 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	OOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! It sure is very, very unusual and very, very pretty! Please show close-ups of the blade, handle, markings, scabbard decorations, in short--- everything!

25th September 2006, 09:31 PM	#3
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	Very unusual indeed. I would classify the metalwork on the scabbard as Ottoman, usually comes from northwest Turkey or even Armenia. The "column" like hilt is the first one I have seen.

26th September 2006, 12:09 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Ottomans had a technique of decorating their daggers with plain silver sheets. Perhaps, one of the most elegant approaches. The "column" is the first one I've seen. The blade needs to be gently cleaned. I would take it to a good jeweller who can do laser welding and try to restore the silverwork. I am usually not into extensive alterations but in this case the amount of work is minimal, the geshtalt of the decoraton is absolutely clear and it will only restore the original beauty rather than reshape it. Very beautiful! You should be proud of your find and take good care of it!

26th September 2006, 07:58 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Instead of silver, I might suggest white metal - I can see areas of green oxidation - signs of the presence of high concentrations of copper, like that in white metal.

28th September 2006, 10:45 AM	#6
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	Privet Ivane, Great to see nice things still being discovered in Bulgaria. As suggested earlier, can you please post some better pictures of the blade? The thin sheat on the scabbard and the hilt and scabbard decoration deffinitely suggest Balkans, although the blade may be older and from the Caucasus. Can you have a goldsmith perform an undestructive test to determine whether the white metal is indeed silver or something else? The amswer to this question may greatly help with dating. As a caveat, there is some high quality work nowadays in Bulgaria. Regards, Teodor

28th September 2006, 04:38 PM	#8
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Rivkin, Yes you're right the kindjal you posted is from Trabzon/Surmene area. I have a short with identica decoration on the blade. The blakan silver/brass scabbard covers are even more thin, just like the kindjal on the first post.