Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 5th November 2024, 05:49 AM   #1
Robski55
Member
 
Robski55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Alberta
Posts: 10
Default Ottoman Yataghan - Gold Inscription Translation?

Greetings

Recently found this 29.5" Ottoman Yataghan.

I am wondering if the Gold inlaid Inscriptions can be translated? Likely Quran verses, but perhaps something more like a name or date in the roundels.

Google thinks it is Persian / Farsi but it doesn't translate properly.

The sword is in pretty good condition and came with a signed 1919 gouache /watercolour painting of the exact Yataghan on laid paper.

Quite a handsome weapon.

Any Help would be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards
Rob
Attached Images
           
Robski55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 6th November 2024, 03:15 AM   #2
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,226
Default

This is from the Balkans, perhaps Bosnia. Might have belonged to a jannisary. The ivory is walrus ivory with red corals. You even have the seal of Soloman on the blade.

Nice!
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9th November 2024, 01:39 AM   #3
gp
Member
 
gp's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 724
Default

Excellent find! My respect. ☼☼☼

Indeed as Jose wrote it is from Bosnia, the Balkans ( as the handle / grip or hilt is very similar to the Bosnian ones I have) and my guess about its age: about 200 years old and owned by an important man.

Please allow me to be so bold and give a piece of advise:
clean both the metal and walrus to keep them from deteriorating...
After cleaning also add some oil to :

1. the walruss to "feed" or preserve it longer and stop the breaking line or crackgetting deeper and widening .
2. the copper metal pieces to also avoid "drying out" or oxidation, causing some it to break ( further than already)

as yours is a too beautiful one to let it deteriorate over time....and the copper deserves to shine ☺

It will improve your outstanding yataghan greatly as it did mine.
I shall show some pictures, but you have to be a little patient as I just had a eye operation. Enclosed one picture of mine halfway cleaned last month .
But you can already see the positieve outcome on both the metal and the grip/handle even if it is not completed.


The inscription is in a most beautifull condition and outstanding in both its size/ the amount of scripture as in its caligraphy and indicates having belonged to a quite important owner,
FYI: normally it would be just the name of the maker / smith and just the owner with sometimes his title , approx. 2 lines . But by the amount seen on yours, it is a special made one. Congrats !

FYI: have a look at the collection of the Zagreb museum to compare yours with
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ataghan+zagreb
Attached Images
   

Last edited by gp; 9th November 2024 at 04:22 AM.
gp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9th November 2024, 10:11 PM   #4
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,226
Default

GP brings out some good points.

I use Johnson's Baby oil for my ivory pieces since it is less acidic.

As for the metals, it would be a good idea to carefully clean off the dirt on them or else they will not just oxidate but corrode the underlying copper structure.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10th November 2024, 02:36 PM   #5
gp
Member
 
gp's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 724
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Battara View Post
GP brings out some good points.

I use Johnson's Baby oil for my ivory pieces since it is less acidic.

As for the metals, it would be a good idea to carefully clean off the dirt on them or else they will not just oxidate but corrode the underlying copper structure.

much obliged, I an only fullhearted support this. Found some pics of mine 3/4 cleaned in the way Jose described .
FYI: mine were in exact the same condition as the above uncleaned one ( both bone handle as metal part).
You can compare the above uncleaned one ( first pic below) with my 3/4 cleanded ones and see for yourself...both bone as metal looks better
Attached Images
            

Last edited by gp; 10th November 2024 at 03:08 PM.
gp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10th November 2024, 03:11 PM   #6
gp
Member
 
gp's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 724
Default

I also would recommend to clean the dirt on the blade close to the golden decoration, this in order to avoid that dirt getting a negative impact on that decoration ...
some of my blades were as dirty as yours

please compare ; the first picture is your uncleaned one versus the others ( my cleaned ones in black and white pics).
Good luck and thumbs up with your very beautiful yataghan !
Attached Images
       
gp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11th November 2024, 07:03 PM   #7
Robski55
Member
 
Robski55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Alberta
Posts: 10
Default

Thanks for the responses and the Great Advice.

I just got it, but I will definitely clean and preserve it right away.

Cheers
Rob
Robski55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12th November 2024, 01:59 PM   #8
gp
Member
 
gp's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 724
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robski55 View Post
Thanks for the responses and the Great Advice.

I just got it, but I will definitely clean and preserve it right away.

Cheers
Rob
You’re welcome. Please do show us the result, thank you
gp is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
coral, gold, inscription, yataghan


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.