My Best Catch Ever

archer · 14th July 2012, 02:49 AM

These Koummya started me on a quest for others, they were E bay items with a no returns limitation. I contacted the seller who agreed to allow returns, if not satisfied. They sold for the opening bid. I was sure the gold colored one was a plastic movie prop. It later tested to be 18K gilt over solid 14K gold.
Well, the original owner was T'hami El Glaoui, Berber Pasha of Marrakesh, and Lord of the Atlas Mountains. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thami_El_Glaoui T'hami was teenage hero who with his older brother saved the lives of Pasha Moulay Hassan and his army trapped in the Atlas Mountains during a blizzard. He later protected a number of Christians and Foreigners, during the Fez treaty 1912.

T'hami sent his children to live with the Bellon family and be educated in Paris, the two Families interacted visiting Marrakesh frequently. Michel Bellon and Mohammed El Glaouli, became boyhood friends. Michel Bellon was also a young teen hero in the French Resistance.

The gold dagger was presented to Michel by T’hami El Glaoui for his wartime efforts. The Silver dagger was from his friend Mohammed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJjKtiEj1a0
Michel was fourteen when his father became a leader in the French Resistance. Michel gives his accounting: On November 16, 2007, Bro. Michel Bellon gave a presentation of his life as a 14-year old within the French Resistance of Nazi-Occupied France and the Masonic leadership that had helped organized these French Patriots into the Maquis. Mr. Bellon was arrested and died in Auschwitz. Michel spoke of three Americans who supported, trained and supplied the Resistance and his eventual flight taking them to Spain and safety then on to the United States only to return to the war as an American Bomber Pilot ferrying planes in need of repairs.

I've included a photo of a very similar Koummya from the Roosevelt Library.

I can hardly believe this whole find and with provenance. Steve

kai · 14th July 2012, 03:03 AM

Congrats, Steve!

How did you link these 2 pieces with the provenance?

Please let us have a peek at the blades, too! What is their max. thickness?

Regards,
Kai

eric45 · 14th July 2012, 03:21 AM

Very nice.

Stasa Katz · 14th July 2012, 04:05 AM

"Chance favors (only) the prepared mind." Louis Pasteur

Rick · 14th July 2012, 04:54 AM

Some Sun must shine ...

Awesome purchase !

ThePepperSkull · 14th July 2012, 07:46 AM

unbelievably beautiful pieces with an equally beautiful story behind it. Congrats on a wonderful find!

archer · 14th July 2012, 08:32 AM

The blade on the gold one is heavy but plain and never touched, the silver one is much older style and age 3/16" thick at hilt stained and slight pitting over about a third of the blade. Hilt is crude wood and looks like it was carried by a
young man. The connection with El Glaoui was mentioned in the listing. Here is
an explanation by Mr. Bellon. I couldn't get my scan of the letter to work, so photo of screen will have to do.

How many times have you handled a weapon and wished it could talk. It took about four months to get the letter thru the E Bay Seller, but, I was assured
Michel felt it was time to let them go to someone who wanted to preserve their
history.

Steve

ariel · 14th July 2012, 04:46 PM

We seem to have a proliferation of Koummyas given by Mr. Glaoui to varios dignitaries :

What a strange coincidence......

Atlantia · 14th July 2012, 04:56 PM

Ariel.
That's an active auction. Might want to remove the link and just mention that it is currently being offered?

ariel · 14th July 2012, 08:24 PM

Sorry:-(((

DaveA · 15th July 2012, 04:38 AM

Just when I was beginning to lose hope of treasure on eBay! Congratulations

NovelsRus · 15th July 2012, 10:34 PM

GREAT finds, Archer. I gnash my teeth in envy!
But they couldn't have found a better home.

David R · 16th July 2012, 05:56 PM

Superb pieces with quality blades.

A.alnakkas · 16th July 2012, 05:57 PM

Nice one! beautiful examples thanks alot for sharing.

archer · 21st July 2012, 09:23 PM

Hi Ariel, The koummya to President Roosevelt was presented by Sultan Suli Mohammed. We both noted the second dagger by T'hami El Glaoui at the same time. I ended up with it. I spoke to the seller he has owned it for 15 years or so. Interestingly, he found and contacted Relatives of General Wilson. He asked if they would be interested, they declined saying they Kept the other one with pearls. Seems T'hami also gave him other baubles and an Arabian Horse. So I'm trying to find out what his duties were in Morocco and why these presentations took place. E Bay photos were oversize. Steve

archer · 10th August 2020, 12:57 AM

I'm about to turn 82 so i thought i'd get a jeweler to establish the gold content of this piece current value + 12K. hopefully it won't end up in a yard sale> So keep your eyes open who knows.
Steve

14th July 2012, 02:49 AM	#1
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	My Best Catch Ever These Koummya started me on a quest for others, they were E bay items with a no returns limitation. I contacted the seller who agreed to allow returns, if not satisfied. They sold for the opening bid. I was sure the gold colored one was a plastic movie prop. It later tested to be 18K gilt over solid 14K gold. Well, the original owner was T'hami El Glaoui, Berber Pasha of Marrakesh, and Lord of the Atlas Mountains. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thami_El_Glaoui T'hami was teenage hero who with his older brother saved the lives of Pasha Moulay Hassan and his army trapped in the Atlas Mountains during a blizzard. He later protected a number of Christians and Foreigners, during the Fez treaty 1912. T'hami sent his children to live with the Bellon family and be educated in Paris, the two Families interacted visiting Marrakesh frequently. Michel Bellon and Mohammed El Glaouli, became boyhood friends. Michel Bellon was also a young teen hero in the French Resistance. The gold dagger was presented to Michel by T’hami El Glaoui for his wartime efforts. The Silver dagger was from his friend Mohammed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJjKtiEj1a0 Michel was fourteen when his father became a leader in the French Resistance. Michel gives his accounting: On November 16, 2007, Bro. Michel Bellon gave a presentation of his life as a 14-year old within the French Resistance of Nazi-Occupied France and the Masonic leadership that had helped organized these French Patriots into the Maquis. Mr. Bellon was arrested and died in Auschwitz. Michel spoke of three Americans who supported, trained and supplied the Resistance and his eventual flight taking them to Spain and safety then on to the United States only to return to the war as an American Bomber Pilot ferrying planes in need of repairs. I've included a photo of a very similar Koummya from the Roosevelt Library. I can hardly believe this whole find and with provenance. Steve Attached Images

14th July 2012, 04:05 AM	#4
Stasa Katz Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 18	We all dream for this! "Chance favors (only) the prepared mind." Louis Pasteur

14th July 2012, 04:54 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,294	Into Each Life ... Some Sun must shine ... Awesome purchase !

14th July 2012, 08:32 AM	#7
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	More information The blade on the gold one is heavy but plain and never touched, the silver one is much older style and age 3/16" thick at hilt stained and slight pitting over about a third of the blade. Hilt is crude wood and looks like it was carried by a young man. The connection with El Glaoui was mentioned in the listing. Here is an explanation by Mr. Bellon. I couldn't get my scan of the letter to work, so photo of screen will have to do. How many times have you handled a weapon and wished it could talk. It took about four months to get the letter thru the E Bay Seller, but, I was assured Michel felt it was time to let them go to someone who wanted to preserve their history. Steve Attached Images

14th July 2012, 04:46 PM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	We seem to have a proliferation of Koummyas given by Mr. Glaoui to varios dignitaries : What a strange coincidence...... Last edited by fernando; 14th July 2012 at 05:18 PM.

14th July 2012, 03:03 AM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Congrats, Steve! How did you link these 2 pieces with the provenance? Please let us have a peek at the blades, too! What is their max. thickness? Regards, Kai

14th July 2012, 03:21 AM	#3
eric45 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: usa Posts: 32	Very nice.

14th July 2012, 07:46 AM	#6
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	unbelievably beautiful pieces with an equally beautiful story behind it. Congrats on a wonderful find!

14th July 2012, 04:56 PM	#9
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Ariel. That's an active auction. Might want to remove the link and just mention that it is currently being offered?

14th July 2012, 08:24 PM	#10
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Sorry:-(((

15th July 2012, 04:38 AM	#11
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 413	Inspiring! Just when I was beginning to lose hope of treasure on eBay! Congratulations

15th July 2012, 10:34 PM	#12
NovelsRus Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 41	Major Congratulations, Steve! GREAT finds, Archer. I gnash my teeth in envy! But they couldn't have found a better home.

16th July 2012, 05:56 PM	#13
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Superb pieces with quality blades.

16th July 2012, 05:57 PM	#14
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Nice one! beautiful examples thanks alot for sharing.

21st July 2012, 09:23 PM	#15
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	More El glaoui Hi Ariel, The koummya to President Roosevelt was presented by Sultan Suli Mohammed. We both noted the second dagger by T'hami El Glaoui at the same time. I ended up with it. I spoke to the seller he has owned it for 15 years or so. Interestingly, he found and contacted Relatives of General Wilson. He asked if they would be interested, they declined saying they Kept the other one with pearls. Seems T'hami also gave him other baubles and an Arabian Horse. So I'm trying to find out what his duties were in Morocco and why these presentations took place. E Bay photos were oversize. Steve Attached Images

10th August 2020, 12:57 AM	#16
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	temptatio vs collection I'm about to turn 82 so i thought i'd get a jeweler to establish the gold content of this piece current value + 12K. hopefully it won't end up in a yard sale> So keep your eyes open who knows. Steve