"Pitch-Qabz" from Bukhara - Uzbekistan

Dom · 21st April 2011, 01:16 AM

Hi my Friends
let me introduce you a small marvel, a "Pitch-Qabz" from Bukhara - Uzbekistan
- 19th or 20th century
- beautiful shaped blade as a yataghan
- nice contrast for a very fine "johar"
- handle constituted of 2 plaques of mother of pearl with a thin line of small turquoise
- the back of the handle, is decorated in silver mount
- scabbard is constituted on a wood core, covered with silver, copper, leather, decorated with a small turquoise

ask myself that question;
- the fringed leather pouch that accompanies it, it's come from Bukhara ??

it looks too much like the work of Native North America ...

but the 2 bobbles, and bells silvered seems to be Asian

then I ask for, what do you think about this ??

à +

Dom

Tatyana Dianova · 21st April 2011, 09:21 PM

Hi Dom,
I like your "small marvel"

I believe the leather poach is original, because the pendants with cords attached to it are traditionally Uzbek, such pendats were attached to belts, swords, braids, etc. And poaches for these type of knives were used too!

Jim McDougall · 21st April 2011, 10:30 PM

I completely agree with Tatyana, and this is truly a beautiful bichaq. What compellingly makes this pouch seem American Indian is that it is rawhide, a most commonly seen material seen in our frontiers and the fringe of course adds to the attractive appearance. In Central Asia, Uzbekistan was in many ways one of the frontiers in much the same sense, and rawhide was certainly well known there as well.

Best regards,
Jim

Dom · 22nd April 2011, 12:14 AM

Tatyana and Jim
thank you for your valuable comments

I was really afraid of being ridiculed if
I had announced that this bag was well Uzbek,
as well as the seller had indicated to me

I don't believe obligatorily all sellers ...

thanks again for your assistance

à +

Dom

Jim McDougall · 22nd April 2011, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom

Tatyana and Jim
thank you for your valuable comments

I was really afraid of being ridiculed if
I had announced that this bag was well Uzbek,
as well as the seller had indicated to me

I don't believe obligatorily all sellers ...

thanks again for your assistance

à +

Dom

Very good idea to check your six with altogether too many sellers!!! But I dont think the term 'ridicule' is in the same universe with you........one of our most valuable assets here

All the best,
Jim

ALEX · 1st May 2011, 08:21 PM

Nice Buharan knife, Dom. and nice to have one completed with silver scabbard, stones and wootz blade. I also like Buharan knifes like this. Here's one with silver/niello handle and wootz blade, and also dated as of 19th C... the pouch is missing:-)

colin henshaw · 1st May 2011, 08:39 PM

Very fine knives, I must say. Not my area of knowledge really - what is the silver "bud" shaped finial to the scabbard chape ? I have seen very similar finials to other Islamic knife scabbards...

Thanks and regards.

Dom · 2nd May 2011, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

Nice Buharan knife, Dom.

Thanks Alex, yours it's realy "gorgeous" ... I love it

à +

Dom

ALEX · 3rd May 2011, 05:55 PM

there are a few ethnographic images here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Prokudin-Gorsky
stunning images considering they were taken over 100 years ago

Dom · 3rd May 2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

This is an original 1910 picture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

This is an original 1910 picture.

amazing, pity that the sword is hided
the kaftan is a wonder, as well as, the silver belt buckle

thanks to share with us

à +

Dom

David · 3rd May 2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

stunning images considering they were taken over 100 years ago

Indeed, though Prokudin-Gorsky's pioneering color work was really created for projection and printing them at the time was quite difficult. What we are seeing here is a brilliant reconstruction though digital means. Of course the raw material of the three different monochrome negatives still needed to be of the highest quality to yield such a lovely result as this. Here is a link to the modern process surrounding the presentation of these 100 year old images. Off topic a bit, but i'm a bit of a photo geek.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/making.html

ALEX · 20th June 2011, 10:05 PM

Dom,
Here is Bukharan knife from Mozer/Zeller book. Most elements, if not all, in its construction and design are very similar to yours, but the pouch is little cooler:-)

Gavin Nugent · 20th June 2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

there are a few ethnographic images here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Prokudin-Gorsky
stunning images considering they were taken over 100 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom

amazing, pity that the sword is hided
the kaftan is a wonder, as well as, the silver belt buckle

thanks to share with us

à +

Dom

Great bringing this Wiki image to the discussion Alex and nice unusual dagger you present too.

Dom, the sword from what images I've found appears to be the standard Russian Sabre of the day, 1881-1908 pattern but the embellishments are WOW, it is part of a series of photos by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky and the sabre is seen from many different angles. The dress of the sabre appears to be in full gold and enamel dress as would be expected for an Emir.

The series is available on the net, but not being on my home PC at present I do not have them available to post nor the link.

Gav

Dom · 21st June 2011, 12:26 AM

Many Thanks Alex and Gav

my documentation file for this dagger (real asset for us)
starts to get really argued with all these input
I appreciate a lot your assistance

regards

à +

Dom

Gavin Nugent · 21st June 2011, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom

Many Thanks Alex and Gav

my documentation file for this dagger (real asset for us)
starts to get really argued with all these input
I appreciate a lot your assistance

regards

à +

Dom

Dom, I would be happy to talk and learn more of Bukhara every day

My apologies too Dom, being away from my own notes, I had my wires crossed abour the exactness of the Emir's sabre but have a look at these two links;

First one scroll half way down and view the sabre in the hands of a Bukharan Interior minister and then in the second link a better image of the Emir's sword hilt (I'm sure there are more somewhere...), they are the same style Russian sabres in Bukharan dress...I know not how much the Emir's differs but I would say not much looking at them at face value.

http://www.turkotek.com/misc_00022/amu_darya.htm

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4SpVzVsDA0...0%2599s-15.jpg

Gav

21st April 2011, 01:16 AM	#1
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	"Pitch-Qabz" from Bukhara - Uzbekistan Hi my Friends let me introduce you a small marvel, a "Pitch-Qabz" from Bukhara - Uzbekistan - 19th or 20th century - beautiful shaped blade as a yataghan - nice contrast for a very fine "johar" - handle constituted of 2 plaques of mother of pearl with a thin line of small turquoise - the back of the handle, is decorated in silver mount - scabbard is constituted on a wood core, covered with silver, copper, leather, decorated with a small turquoise ask myself that question; - the fringed leather pouch that accompanies it, it's come from Bukhara ?? it looks too much like the work of Native North America ... but the 2 bobbles, and bells silvered seems to be Asian then I ask for, what do you think about this ?? à + Dom Attached Images

1st May 2011, 08:21 PM	#6
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Nice Buharan knife, Dom. and nice to have one completed with silver scabbard, stones and wootz blade. I also like Buharan knifes like this. Here's one with silver/niello handle and wootz blade, and also dated as of 19th C... the pouch is missing:-) Attached Images

3rd May 2011, 05:55 PM	#9
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	there are a few ethnographic images here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Prokudin-Gorsky stunning images considering they were taken over 100 years ago Attached Images Last edited by ALEX; 3rd May 2011 at 06:08 PM.

20th June 2011, 10:05 PM	#12
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Dom, Here is Bukharan knife from Mozer/Zeller book. Most elements, if not all, in its construction and design are very similar to yours, but the pouch is little cooler:-) Attached Images

21st April 2011, 09:21 PM	#2
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 695	Hi Dom, I like your "small marvel" I believe the leather poach is original, because the pendants with cords attached to it are traditionally Uzbek, such pendats were attached to belts, swords, braids, etc. And poaches for these type of knives were used too!

21st April 2011, 10:30 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	I completely agree with Tatyana, and this is truly a beautiful bichaq. What compellingly makes this pouch seem American Indian is that it is rawhide, a most commonly seen material seen in our frontiers and the fringe of course adds to the attractive appearance. In Central Asia, Uzbekistan was in many ways one of the frontiers in much the same sense, and rawhide was certainly well known there as well. Best regards, Jim

22nd April 2011, 12:14 AM	#4
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	Tatyana and Jim thank you for your valuable comments I was really afraid of being ridiculed if I had announced that this bag was well Uzbek, as well as the seller had indicated to me I don't believe obligatorily all sellers ... thanks again for your assistance à + Dom

1st May 2011, 08:39 PM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Very fine knives, I must say. Not my area of knowledge really - what is the silver "bud" shaped finial to the scabbard chape ? I have seen very similar finials to other Islamic knife scabbards... Thanks and regards.

21st June 2011, 12:26 AM	#14
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	Many Thanks Alex and Gav my documentation file for this dagger (real asset for us) starts to get really argued with all these input I appreciate a lot your assistance regards à + Dom