Kaskara?? Expensive to say the least.

[ariel]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Not quite as expensive.

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6065527

Norman,
This one was peanuts in comparison: an 8-fold difference:-)
The description of “your” example states that kaskaras were modeled after the crusaders swords. The problem with that is that crusaders never reached Sudan and the gap of ~ 600-700 years is way too big.
IMHO, they were modeled on Egyptian Mamluks swords, who had straight double-edged swords and actually owned Sudan. Even the crossguard is of the same rhomboid form ( see Yucel’s book)
Actually, Sudanese kaskaras served as a source for fake medieval European swords by British counterfeiters and were proudly exhibited on the walls of castles and taverns.
Just a thought…

[Jim McDougall]

Norman, a well noted example! and the attribution to Ali Dinar of course is very impressive. Actually as I mentioned earlier, he had it would appear a number of significant swords in his armory before he was killed by British forces in 1914.
These were of it would seem, some range, and I have owned one which was apocryphally attributed to his armory......however it is nowhere near the status of this example......likely more the likening of this type of hilt and overall style to 'of the type' Ali Dinar favored.

I think it has been rather a consensus that the Sudanese kaskara indeed did evolve from Mamluk broadswords, which had been maintained in the apparent conservative manner of the Mamluks. Actually, it is thought that perhaps the profuse 'thuluth' decoration on the weapons of the Mahdiyya may have been inspired by Mamluk artisans in Sennar. This had been an established Mamluk enclave prior to 1821, as this was where most of them had gone after their flight from Egypt in 16th century. It does not seem unreasonable that the Mamluk types of blade and mounting which was certainly brought with them would influence the form of the kaskara (as noted, Yucel).

Ewart Oakeshott noted in his references that many a worthy 'kaskara' had been dismantled when brought back from the campaigns in Sudan, many with European broadsword blades, often with the familiar cosmological symbols, and were remounted with newly made hilts of medieval style. In some cases, these may have been authentically medieval. This is why Dr. Briggs wrote his monumental article on European blades in North African swords (1965).


I added some pics, the first two are basically the type of kaskara hilt typically seen (in some variation) during the Mahdiyya (1883-1898) and the profusely acid etched 'thuluth' inscription. These are repeated passages from the Quran used in decorative style, often with other messages added in.

The next two are the kaskara style (often associated with Ali Dinar) which seem to have evolved at some just after the Mahdiyya and during the Anglo Egyptian condominium, particularly in Darfur. Note the heavy discoid pommel and capstan. While these are most often with silver lozenge design on grip, some like this are with crocodile hide, as seen here.
Clearly this example is worlds away from that Norman has shown.

Just wanted to illustrate these variances for those reading here.

[TVV]

Very impressive and interesting kaskara. The blade was definitely a heirloom one, as it has been inserted into mount at the forte, similar to some takoubas. The chiseled, gold inlaid floral decoration at the base of the blade is reminiscent of Ottoman 18th century work, so this is probably one of the oldest blades on a kaskara. It would be interesting if kwiatek or someone else can read and translate the inscription.

[Edster]

Ariel,

Actually, the crusaders did do a well documented raid in the Red Sea in 1182-83.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/40000370
But, even though there were crusader battle trophies in Eqyptian museums, I agree the crusader connection to the kaskara is likely a Victorian marketing ploy.

The mechanical jammed wooden attachment of the kaskara's blade to the cross guard seems to me to be an innovation to the Mamluk method.

The Sennar (chisel) ends on some cross guards is a kaskara innovation over the rhomboid, as is the welded four part method of fabricating the overall cross guard. Unlike the cast cross guard preferred by the Mamluks.

Regards,
Ed

[Jim McDougall]

It would indeed be most important to have these inscriptions translated as this would establish more toward the dating of the blade by the context of the wording and other information. Clearly this is an important blade, which has heirloom connection as Teodor has noted.
While not necessarily the oldest blade from a kaskara, and may well be earlier than 18th century, it is certainly among the often extremely old blades which made their way into Egypt and Sudan.

Ed, your observations on these cross guards and the stylistic characteristics of these hilts are among the most important references toward the proper identification of kaskara's. The Fung influences from Sennar are indeed very notable with the flared terminals.

Well noted on the European trophy swords from the Crusades which were in Alexandria, and it is interesting that the Mamluks were largely the predominant Islamic forces during many of the Crusades. The Mamluks of course were the rulers in Egypt until their overthrow in the 16th c.

The comparison of the broadswords and mail armor seen by Victorian writers were of course romantically placed in the sensationalized accounts, and were taken quite literally. Ironically many of the blades, actually did have early European origins, and had been coming into North Africa from trade networks which brought them included with trade blades of early years.

[Richard G]

If it can be linked to the Mamluk arsenal at Alexandria, maybe through the inscription, then £100K seems about right.
Regards
Richard
PS. I bet the auctioners are still reeling!

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Richard G

...
PS. I bet the auctioners are still reeling!

Laughing and partying all the way to the bank. Not a bad return for a few minutes work. I've heard of someone who was expecting to pay a couple grand , and resell it at a profit. The auction listing just describes the inscriptions as 'a yellow metal', not gold.

[Kmaddock]

For those that did not see, the auction guide price was 200-400 Pounds
Happy Christmas to someone!!

Regards

Ken

[Battara]

Originally Posted by kronckew

The auction listing just describes the inscriptions as 'a yellow metal', not gold.

I've noticed that in order not to get into trouble, dealers and auction houses won't list "silver" or "gold" because they don't bother to test the material or have the testing kits. "German silver" and bronze when polished look like silver or gold, so they list the metal details ambiguously.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Battara

I've noticed that in order not to get into trouble, dealers and auction houses won't list "silver" or "gold" because they don't bother to test the material or have the testing kits. "German silver" and bronze when polished look like silver or gold, so they list the metal details ambiguously.

That is a very astute and well placed note. Those tend to make things complicated.