Help With Yataghan Inscription?

Rumpel · 26th February 2010, 03:48 PM

First, I really should apologise for the poor quality of the photos. I've lost the USB cable for my camera, so have had to use my mobile...

So, the yat: it's quite crude, and looks identical to the military issue yataghan from the Russo-Turkish War I remember seeing elsewhere in this forum, but which I can't currently locate...

The hilt's presumably later, and T-shaped buffalo horn. Is this an Anatolian, rather than Balkan, style?

I think what I really want to know is, what does the inscription mean (if anyone can read it through the blurriness) and was it added by an 'ethnographic user' rather than an unscrupulous London dealer...?

Thanks in advance, chaps. I've got an (I think) early 19th c Bosnian bichaq with a maker's mark I need help with, but I'll need to sort out the camera problems first...

Rumpel · 26th February 2010, 03:51 PM

Few more pics:

I should have added that the obverse side shows a seal of Solomon and floriate design.

Edit: I found the issue yataghan pic, now attached. Looking at it, it looks far less 'identical' than than I remembered it...

Zifir · 27th February 2010, 10:08 PM

Hi,
It's really impossible to read it. Any chance to get better pictures?

Rumpel · 1st March 2010, 09:30 PM

Hi Zifir,

Thanks for responding.

Until I, or more likely, Mrs Rumpel, find the USB cable for my camera, those cameraphone pics are the best I can offer. I'll try and copy the text in Microsoft Paint and upload it tomorrow.

Thanks again,

Rumpel.

Rumpel · 2nd March 2010, 02:40 PM

Hi Zifir,

The inscription looks like this...er, sort of...

Zifir · 3rd March 2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumpel

Hi Zifir,

The inscription looks like this...er, sort of...

I can only make a very wild guess, but the funny thing is two lines seem exactly similiar. This is very unusual but without seeing the pictures I don't want to say anything.

It seems the first two words of both lines can be read as "sahib ve malik" which means "owner". But as I say, I am only guessing.

Nice caligraphy by the way, much like qufi style

Rumpel · 5th March 2010, 03:56 PM

Hi Zifir,

Thanks for having a look. I had assumed the repeated line meant the inscription might be some sort of prayer or invocation, but I guess it doesn't look that way now...

Thank Windows Paint for the stylised calligraphic style...

26th February 2010, 03:48 PM	#1
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	Help With Yataghan Inscription? First, I really should apologise for the poor quality of the photos. I've lost the USB cable for my camera, so have had to use my mobile... So, the yat: it's quite crude, and looks identical to the military issue yataghan from the Russo-Turkish War I remember seeing elsewhere in this forum, but which I can't currently locate... The hilt's presumably later, and T-shaped buffalo horn. Is this an Anatolian, rather than Balkan, style? I think what I really want to know is, what does the inscription mean (if anyone can read it through the blurriness) and was it added by an 'ethnographic user' rather than an unscrupulous London dealer...? Thanks in advance, chaps. I've got an (I think) early 19th c Bosnian bichaq with a maker's mark I need help with, but I'll need to sort out the camera problems first... Attached Images

26th February 2010, 03:51 PM	#2
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	Few more pics: I should have added that the obverse side shows a seal of Solomon and floriate design. Edit: I found the issue yataghan pic, now attached. Looking at it, it looks far less 'identical' than than I remembered it... Attached Images Last edited by Rumpel; 26th February 2010 at 05:38 PM. Reason: To include additional photo

2nd March 2010, 02:40 PM	#5
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	Hi Zifir, The inscription looks like this...er, sort of... Attached Images Last edited by Rumpel; 2nd March 2010 at 02:54 PM.

27th February 2010, 10:08 PM	#3
Zifir Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Istanbul Posts: 228	Hi, It's really impossible to read it. Any chance to get better pictures?

1st March 2010, 09:30 PM	#4
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	Hi Zifir, Thanks for responding. Until I, or more likely, Mrs Rumpel, find the USB cable for my camera, those cameraphone pics are the best I can offer. I'll try and copy the text in Microsoft Paint and upload it tomorrow. Thanks again, Rumpel.

5th March 2010, 03:56 PM	#7
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	Hi Zifir, Thanks for having a look. I had assumed the repeated line meant the inscription might be some sort of prayer or invocation, but I guess it doesn't look that way now... Thank Windows Paint for the stylised calligraphic style...