Curious Tuareg "Telek Dagger?"

Iain · 8th December 2012, 01:57 PM

Hi Andy, that's certainly possible. Tuareg leather and metal goods (jewelry etc.) I guess is imported, why not the knives.

This link might be interesting - some of the Senegal knife styles seem to share characteristics with the materials and geometric shapes seen in these Tuareg pieces.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore...d/daggers.aspx

Andy Stevens · 8th December 2012, 02:43 PM

Interesting link Iain, a very nice type of dagger, decorative and eye catching. Regarding Tuareg items, there has certainly been an increase in the modern Takoubas in the UK, perhaps due to tourism but I suspect there is a strong market for importers to exploit, after all, ethnic jewelry is I think I'm right in saying, rather popular at the moment and North African designs are very attractive.

Iain · 8th December 2012, 04:05 PM

Hi Andy,

I've seen them imported by various places that specialize on the modern craft side of things - probably doesn't take much for them to drift into the antique markets as swords tend to be assumed to be old.

I would imagine the flow will slow down a bit in the next year due to the general unrest in the areas where these would still be produced. Despite these newer items not being of much interest to me personally, it would be a pity I think for the craft to die out.

Andy Stevens · 8th December 2012, 04:29 PM

It would indeed be a sad thing to see the decline or ending of a time honoured craft. We actually saw one of the very new Takoubas sell for a draw dropping £200 at a large antique market. It's nice in a way that people will pay that sort of money but as you say, most likely because the buyer considered the sword to be ancient.

Tim Simmons · 8th December 2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Stevens

It would indeed be a sad thing to see the decline or ending of a time honoured craft. We actually saw one of the very new Takoubas sell for a draw dropping £200 at a large antique market. It's nice in a way that people will pay that sort of money but as you say, most likely because the buyer considered the sword to be ancient.

Huh, only if you are selling.

8th December 2012, 01:57 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Hi Andy, that's certainly possible. Tuareg leather and metal goods (jewelry etc.) I guess is imported, why not the knives. This link might be interesting - some of the Senegal knife styles seem to share characteristics with the materials and geometric shapes seen in these Tuareg pieces. http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore...d/daggers.aspx

8th December 2012, 02:43 PM	#2
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	Interesting link Iain, a very nice type of dagger, decorative and eye catching. Regarding Tuareg items, there has certainly been an increase in the modern Takoubas in the UK, perhaps due to tourism but I suspect there is a strong market for importers to exploit, after all, ethnic jewelry is I think I'm right in saying, rather popular at the moment and North African designs are very attractive.

8th December 2012, 04:05 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Hi Andy, I've seen them imported by various places that specialize on the modern craft side of things - probably doesn't take much for them to drift into the antique markets as swords tend to be assumed to be old. I would imagine the flow will slow down a bit in the next year due to the general unrest in the areas where these would still be produced. Despite these newer items not being of much interest to me personally, it would be a pity I think for the craft to die out.

8th December 2012, 04:29 PM	#4
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	It would indeed be a sad thing to see the decline or ending of a time honoured craft. We actually saw one of the very new Takoubas sell for a draw dropping £200 at a large antique market. It's nice in a way that people will pay that sort of money but as you say, most likely because the buyer considered the sword to be ancient.