A caucasian shashka from my collection for comment

ariel · 10th April 2016, 11:58 PM

As a "quickie", end of 19, more likely first quarter of 20 century. Daghestani masters, likely from Vladikavkaz workshop ( purely statistically).
Closer pics will provide additional details, and I and other here will be glad to help.

But the best way, - get Kirill Rivkin's book "Arms and Armor of Caucasus".

BerberDagger · 11th April 2016, 03:01 PM

Hi Ariel , thank you for your comment . I ve Rivkin book , it s bible for me .
I add others pics and I m very happy to known your and others members opinion imput .... thanks Lorenzo

BerberDagger · 11th April 2016, 03:15 PM

others pics

BerberDagger · 11th April 2016, 03:16 PM

others

mariusgmioc · 11th April 2016, 05:04 PM

Magnificent!
Agree with Ariel, but my guess would be 19 century rather than early 20.
Daghestan but also possibly Georgia.

Can you take a close-up photo of the maker's mark?
As Ariel suggested, maybe Rivkin's book on arms and armour of the Caucasus can give you more hints.

PS: Love the fullering and the niello! Fantastic piece and in great condition.

ariel · 12th April 2016, 01:33 AM

I still cannot see the patterns of chasing: tutta? markharai?

The blade is likely from Amuzgi, THE blade center of the Caucasus at that time.

The niello at the back of the scabbard is of the so-called " Moskov-Nakysh" pattern: floral bouquet . This is a very late development: Daghestani masters following tastes of Russian buyers. At the end of 19 century military significance of shashkas went down the drain. They became almost purely decorative implements: expensive, made of rich materials, with more silver than steel :-)
National/ ethnic motives were lost: manufacture concentrated in several towns ( Vladikavkaz, Tbilisi etc), in workshops employing many masters of different ethnicities. Styles got mixed, and totally foreign elements were added. Many shashkas and kindjals were bought as pure souvenirs, often signed in niello " Memories of Kavkaz". This continued till at least 1950, with rich souvenir silver handles and scabbards, containing low quality blades, being manufactured by the State-controlled workshops in limited quantities as gifts to the Communist Party bonzas ....

The above shashka has a feature that puzzles me ( right away: I may be wrong because of its photographic presentation!!!). There were 2 classic forms: "caucasian" with the the handle inserted into the scabbard down to the very pommel, and "asian" with the base of the handle being flush with the top of the scabbard. This one seems to be not here and not there. This is why I cannot exclude its more recent origin.

mariusgmioc · 12th April 2016, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

The above shashka has a feature that puzzles me ( right away: I may be wrong because of its photographic presentation!!!). There were 2 classic forms: "caucasian" with the the handle inserted into the scabbard down to the very pommel, and "asian" with the base of the handle being flush with the top of the scabbard. This one seems to be not here and not there. This is why I cannot exclude its more recent origin.

Hello Ariel,

Nice and thorough analysis but I believe this one qualifies quite well into the "caucasian" type. I don't think the fact that it doesn't sink into the scabbard as deep as other examples is of major significance as it may simply be because of parcticality, to allow a better grip when drawing the sword.

estcrh · 12th April 2016, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

There were 2 classic forms: "caucasian" with the the handle inserted into the scabbard down to the very pommel, and "asian" with the base of the handle being flush with the top of the scabbard.

Ariel, is this a general rule or is it a strictly followed rule.

mariusgmioc · 12th April 2016, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

As a "quickie", end of 19, more likely first quarter of 20 century. Daghestani masters, likely from Vladikavkaz workshop ( purely statistically).
Closer pics will provide additional details, and I and other here will be glad to help.

BINGO!

11th April 2016, 03:01 PM	#2
BerberDagger Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 247	Hi Ariel , thank you for your comment . I ve Rivkin book , it s bible for me . I add others pics and I m very happy to known your and others members opinion imput .... thanks Lorenzo Attached Images

11th April 2016, 03:15 PM	#3
BerberDagger Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 247	pics others pics Attached Images

11th April 2016, 03:16 PM	#4
BerberDagger Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 247	others Attached Images

11th April 2016, 05:04 PM	#5
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Magnificent! Magnificent! Agree with Ariel, but my guess would be 19 century rather than early 20. Daghestan but also possibly Georgia. Can you take a close-up photo of the maker's mark? As Ariel suggested, maybe Rivkin's book on arms and armour of the Caucasus can give you more hints. PS: Love the fullering and the niello! Fantastic piece and in great condition.

10th April 2016, 11:58 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	As a "quickie", end of 19, more likely first quarter of 20 century. Daghestani masters, likely from Vladikavkaz workshop ( purely statistically). Closer pics will provide additional details, and I and other here will be glad to help. But the best way, - get Kirill Rivkin's book "Arms and Armor of Caucasus".

12th April 2016, 01:33 AM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I still cannot see the patterns of chasing: tutta? markharai? The blade is likely from Amuzgi, THE blade center of the Caucasus at that time. The niello at the back of the scabbard is of the so-called " Moskov-Nakysh" pattern: floral bouquet . This is a very late development: Daghestani masters following tastes of Russian buyers. At the end of 19 century military significance of shashkas went down the drain. They became almost purely decorative implements: expensive, made of rich materials, with more silver than steel :-) National/ ethnic motives were lost: manufacture concentrated in several towns ( Vladikavkaz, Tbilisi etc), in workshops employing many masters of different ethnicities. Styles got mixed, and totally foreign elements were added. Many shashkas and kindjals were bought as pure souvenirs, often signed in niello " Memories of Kavkaz". This continued till at least 1950, with rich souvenir silver handles and scabbards, containing low quality blades, being manufactured by the State-controlled workshops in limited quantities as gifts to the Communist Party bonzas .... The above shashka has a feature that puzzles me ( right away: I may be wrong because of its photographic presentation!!!). There were 2 classic forms: "caucasian" with the the handle inserted into the scabbard down to the very pommel, and "asian" with the base of the handle being flush with the top of the scabbard. This one seems to be not here and not there. This is why I cannot exclude its more recent origin.