Show us your koummyas

Dom · 23rd March 2012, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovelsRus

Now for the Koummyas:

Hi
I guess that may be, they are more decorative than ancient
which would explain the absence of competitor to bid
all seems very recent, but might be I could be wrong ?
anyway, nice daggers, very pleasant

tomorrow, I will post a pic for my edged weapons from Morocco

à +

Dom

NovelsRus · 23rd March 2012, 03:51 AM

Hi, Dom,

Thanks for your comments. Yes, please do post some pics of Moroccan blades. I've become especially enamored of the Koummya in the past few months, have tried to buy some of the older, more valuable ones, but . . . you know how that goes. Bidding skyrockets and one must decide between the gas & lights or another knife on the wall.

However, I saw one that looks almost identical to my latest buy (the larger, silvery one with the wooden handle), and it fetched a lot more than I paid. But that auction ended during normal daylight hours for the U.S., while mine ended at some ungawdly hour of the early morning.

Anyway, onward and upward,

JRF

Martin Lubojacky · 23rd March 2012, 12:23 PM

Here are some daggers/knives from Maghreb. BTW, the dagger very simmilar to that one owned by DOM was bought in Tunisia, but probably comes from Algeria, too (there was no dolphin head on the scabbard).
Regards,
Martin

Dom · 23rd March 2012, 04:12 PM

JRF has proposed; Show us your koummyas

as committed, here pics for my Morocco's edged weapons;
- 2 "shulas" relatively old
- 3 "khoumiya", if the 2 first one, I don't have a doubt about their "seniority" ...
not the same for the 3rd one, the blade is good, in respect with what was done in past,
but ... may be has been used to create an attractive dagger with a new; scabbard and handle

I've sticked to the subject proposed by JRF

otherwise, what's concerning the North-Africa
- I've 1 nimcha, to complete about Morocco,
- 8 daggers from Algeria
- 2 arm-daggers
- 3 Bou-Saïd ... that's set

best regards

à +

Dom

Jim McDougall · 23rd March 2012, 05:29 PM

Nicely done Novels!!! thank you for the respectful and courteous observation concerning avoiding evaluations and pricing and for directing those details to private message.
These are an extremely attractive grouping of these fascinating Maghribi janbiyya forms, known of course as koummya. What is best is that while they are modern examples, they reflect distinctly unique variations which are often decorated with inherent tradition and symbolism.

I think my favorite of the ones you have acquired is the one with the coral. As always, I wonder more on the lore behind the selection and use of the various gemstones on these here and in Ottoman weapons.

Fascinating examples shown by Dom and Martin as well, and it seems that while the koummya's typically found in collections are not usually very old, there are profound variations in decoration, motif and subtle anomalies in the design features. Are there references which might address these which might note regional or tribal characteristics? Any particular references or works which would focus keenly on these and related Maghrebi weapons?

I know Tirri presents distinctly useful illustrations of these, and there are a good number shown in Jacob (text in French), but I would like to learn more on the history and variations of these daggers.
Any chance we might develop this a bit on this thread gentlemen? You guys have really piqued my interest with these delightful examples!!!

All the best,
Jim

archer · 23rd March 2012, 09:09 PM

Here's, what I have been able to find on line. It looks like a lot of bling has left Morocco. A RH Genoui and a RH silver Koummya are in the mail. Seller photos are to large. So, more after they come in. Steve

NovelsRus · 24th March 2012, 09:46 PM

Wow! Let me repeat: WOW!
Thanks to all who responded and posted their koummyas. These are, without question, the most beautiful examples of these knives I've ever seen outside a museum. Dom's, Martin's, Colin's and Archer's collections are truly breath-taking. Simply incredible.

I must seriously beef up my own pitiful little collection, if I'm to have something of similar quality to post. Yeeeeesh!

And thanks, Jim, for the warm welcome and compliments. I always try to toe the line in every forum, the rules being rules for a reason, methinks.

Till next time,
And I have some more Koummyas to share,

JRF

archer · 25th March 2012, 03:14 PM

JRF, Keep looking, read everything you can about your collecting interests buy or request books mentioned on the Forum from your local reference library. everything I have came from the same source you are searching in. Buy low, sell high. I'm constantly selling off items after studying them to have cash for the next deal that's out there. They say knowledge is power.

Got one this morning photos too large and out of focus
(sounds funny coming from me) for forum. Looking very similar to my last photo
in previous post. KEEP LOOKING

23rd March 2012, 03:51 AM	#2
NovelsRus Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 41	I think you're right: they aren't very old Hi, Dom, Thanks for your comments. Yes, please do post some pics of Moroccan blades. I've become especially enamored of the Koummya in the past few months, have tried to buy some of the older, more valuable ones, but . . . you know how that goes. Bidding skyrockets and one must decide between the gas & lights or another knife on the wall. However, I saw one that looks almost identical to my latest buy (the larger, silvery one with the wooden handle), and it fetched a lot more than I paid. But that auction ended during normal daylight hours for the U.S., while mine ended at some ungawdly hour of the early morning. Anyway, onward and upward, JRF

23rd March 2012, 12:23 PM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Here are some daggers/knives from Maghreb. BTW, the dagger very simmilar to that one owned by DOM was bought in Tunisia, but probably comes from Algeria, too (there was no dolphin head on the scabbard). Regards, Martin Attached Images

23rd March 2012, 04:12 PM	#4
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	JRF has proposed; Show us your koummyas as committed, here pics for my Morocco's edged weapons; - 2 "shulas" relatively old - 3 "khoumiya", if the 2 first one, I don't have a doubt about their "seniority" ... not the same for the 3rd one, the blade is good, in respect with what was done in past, but ... may be has been used to create an attractive dagger with a new; scabbard and handle I've sticked to the subject proposed by JRF otherwise, what's concerning the North-Africa - I've 1 nimcha, to complete about Morocco, - 8 daggers from Algeria - 2 arm-daggers - 3 Bou-Saïd ... that's set best regards à + Dom Attached Images

23rd March 2012, 09:09 PM	#6
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Koummyas Here's, what I have been able to find on line. It looks like a lot of bling has left Morocco. A RH Genoui and a RH silver Koummya are in the mail. Seller photos are to large. So, more after they come in. Steve Attached Images Last edited by archer; 23rd March 2012 at 09:24 PM.

24th March 2012, 09:46 PM	#7
NovelsRus Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 41	Thanks, ALL Wow! Let me repeat: WOW! Thanks to all who responded and posted their koummyas. These are, without question, the most beautiful examples of these knives I've ever seen outside a museum. Dom's, Martin's, Colin's and Archer's collections are truly breath-taking. Simply incredible. I must seriously beef up my own pitiful little collection, if I'm to have something of similar quality to post. Yeeeeesh! And thanks, Jim, for the warm welcome and compliments. I always try to toe the line in every forum, the rules being rules for a reason, methinks. Till next time, And I have some more Koummyas to share, JRF

23rd March 2012, 05:29 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Nicely done Novels!!! thank you for the respectful and courteous observation concerning avoiding evaluations and pricing and for directing those details to private message. These are an extremely attractive grouping of these fascinating Maghribi janbiyya forms, known of course as koummya. What is best is that while they are modern examples, they reflect distinctly unique variations which are often decorated with inherent tradition and symbolism. I think my favorite of the ones you have acquired is the one with the coral. As always, I wonder more on the lore behind the selection and use of the various gemstones on these here and in Ottoman weapons. Fascinating examples shown by Dom and Martin as well, and it seems that while the koummya's typically found in collections are not usually very old, there are profound variations in decoration, motif and subtle anomalies in the design features. Are there references which might address these which might note regional or tribal characteristics? Any particular references or works which would focus keenly on these and related Maghrebi weapons? I know Tirri presents distinctly useful illustrations of these, and there are a good number shown in Jacob (text in French), but I would like to learn more on the history and variations of these daggers. Any chance we might develop this a bit on this thread gentlemen? You guys have really piqued my interest with these delightful examples!!! All the best, Jim

25th March 2012, 03:14 PM	#8
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	NovelsRus JRF, Keep looking, read everything you can about your collecting interests buy or request books mentioned on the Forum from your local reference library. everything I have came from the same source you are searching in. Buy low, sell high. I'm constantly selling off items after studying them to have cash for the next deal that's out there. They say knowledge is power. Got one this morning photos too large and out of focus (sounds funny coming from me) for forum. Looking very similar to my last photo in previous post. KEEP LOOKING Last edited by archer; 25th March 2012 at 05:39 PM.