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Old 5th November 2024, 05:49 AM   #1
Robski55
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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
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Old 6th November 2024, 03:15 AM   #2
Battara
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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!
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Old 9th November 2024, 01:39 AM   #3
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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
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Last edited by gp; 9th November 2024 at 04:22 AM.
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Old 9th November 2024, 10:11 PM   #4
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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.
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Old 10th November 2024, 02:36 PM   #5
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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
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Last edited by gp; 10th November 2024 at 03:08 PM.
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Old 10th November 2024, 03:11 PM   #6
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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 !
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Old 11th November 2024, 07:03 PM   #7
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Thanks for the responses and the Great Advice.

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

Cheers
Rob
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Old 12th November 2024, 01:59 PM   #8
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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
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