Syrian Dagger

Tatyana Dianova · 8th December 2014, 09:33 PM

Here is a pretty interesting old dagger from Syria. The fittings are nielloed silver; the handle is made of Rhino horn.

It is known that a lot of Circassians have settled in Syria in 19th century – can someone confirm that the fittings are Circassian in style? There were Jewish and Armenian silversmiths in Syria who have made nielloed silver as well.

Can somebody translate the inscriptions? Maybe they can tell the production time and the silversmiths’ name?

Tatyana Dianova · 8th December 2014, 09:34 PM

Inscriptions:

Sajen · 8th December 2014, 09:41 PM

Hello Tatjana,

can't be from help but have to say that it is a real beauty!

Regards,
Detlef

broadaxe · 19th December 2014, 09:49 AM

Very, very nice khanjar. Though I think the horn parts are not rhino but probably bovine, it is not to disrespect the item. While the form is clearly Syrian/Majdali, the work looks Armenian. I've handled a bunch of Jordanian shabriyyahs made exactly the same way, they were made by an Armenian silversmith family in Amman.

Kubur · 19th December 2014, 04:46 PM

Is it possible that these objects are connected to the Circassian Royal Guards in Jordan??

Oliver Pinchot · 19th December 2014, 10:12 PM

The only characteristics that suggest any Circassian influence at all are the general use of niello and the zigzag matting. I've seen examples of Ottoman provincial/Arab work which clearly duplicate Circassian motifs, these really don't.
The inscriptions bear this out. Circassian work with any epigraphy whatever, no matter how elaborate or simple the overall piece, will be well-calligraphed. This is not, however. The signature Work of Muhammad Mabri (?) and the benedictions Bismillah al Rahman al Rahim (Blessing of God, Most Merciful and Compassionate) and Nasr min Allah wu fath qarib (Victory from God and conquest nigh) seem hastily executed by comparison. That said, it is an especially aesthetic example of its type. Most of these were made from Baghdad to Damascus between the world wars.

8th December 2014, 09:33 PM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 700	Syrian Dagger Here is a pretty interesting old dagger from Syria. The fittings are nielloed silver; the handle is made of Rhino horn. It is known that a lot of Circassians have settled in Syria in 19th century – can someone confirm that the fittings are Circassian in style? There were Jewish and Armenian silversmiths in Syria who have made nielloed silver as well. Can somebody translate the inscriptions? Maybe they can tell the production time and the silversmiths’ name? Attached Images

8th December 2014, 09:34 PM	#2
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 700	Inscriptions: Attached Images

8th December 2014, 09:41 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,786	Hello Tatjana, can't be from help but have to say that it is a real beauty! Regards, Detlef

19th December 2014, 09:49 AM	#4
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 332	Very, very nice khanjar. Though I think the horn parts are not rhino but probably bovine, it is not to disrespect the item. While the form is clearly Syrian/Majdali, the work looks Armenian. I've handled a bunch of Jordanian shabriyyahs made exactly the same way, they were made by an Armenian silversmith family in Amman.

19th December 2014, 04:46 PM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Is it possible that these objects are connected to the Circassian Royal Guards in Jordan??

19th December 2014, 10:12 PM	#6
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	The only characteristics that suggest any Circassian influence at all are the general use of niello and the zigzag matting. I've seen examples of Ottoman provincial/Arab work which clearly duplicate Circassian motifs, these really don't. The inscriptions bear this out. Circassian work with any epigraphy whatever, no matter how elaborate or simple the overall piece, will be well-calligraphed. This is not, however. The signature Work of Muhammad Mabri (?) and the benedictions Bismillah al Rahman al Rahim (Blessing of God, Most Merciful and Compassionate) and Nasr min Allah wu fath qarib (Victory from God and conquest nigh) seem hastily executed by comparison. That said, it is an especially aesthetic example of its type. Most of these were made from Baghdad to Damascus between the world wars.