Lion Attacking a Dromedary -1867

fernando · 3rd January 2019, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

... You maybe know Adrian as well? He spent a long time there when the museum was being formed. (Nephew of Chris)...

Adrian became our member in March 2012.

G. Mansfield · 5th January 2019, 06:20 AM

Here is another Orientalist style painting by French artist Eugene Delacroix depicting a similar dramatic fight between a rider and a lion, "Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion" (1849/1850). I cannot make out the weapon used but it may vaguely resemble a yataghan from post Ottoman rule. Delacroix commonly traveled to Morocco and Algeria most likely inspiring this work of art,

RobT · 6th January 2019, 07:07 PM

Hi All,

The dagger I bought last year is very similar to the one shown by G Mansfield and, when I had bought it, I had wondered where it fit within the flyssa/wedding flyssa scheme of things. Given the date of the diorama, I wonder if the daggers in question were transitional between the classic flyssa and the wedding flyssa. Like the daggers shown in the post, my knife has a curved blade typical of the wedding flyssas but the blade engraving, while not up to the quality of the classic flyssa, is of better quality than the typical wedding flyssa. The hilts and cross guards of the wedding flyssas also differ markedly from those on my and G Mansfield's daggers. The hilt and scabbard of my dagger are wood which is sheathed in embossed, low grade silver. The scabbard decorations on the front and back are very different. The back shows what looks for all the world like a series of paired daleths. The blade is about 35.5cm (about 14 in) long and the spine at the hilt is about 6mm (about 7/32 in) thick. While I wouldn't want to fend off a lion with it, the blade appears to be adequate enough for civilian combat. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Sincerely,
RobT

5th January 2019, 06:20 AM	#2
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Colorado Posts: 104	Here is another Orientalist style painting by French artist Eugene Delacroix depicting a similar dramatic fight between a rider and a lion, "Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion" (1849/1850). I cannot make out the weapon used but it may vaguely resemble a yataghan from post Ottoman rule. Delacroix commonly traveled to Morocco and Algeria most likely inspiring this work of art, Attached Images

6th January 2019, 07:07 PM	#3
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 591	I was wondering the same thing Hi All, The dagger I bought last year is very similar to the one shown by G Mansfield and, when I had bought it, I had wondered where it fit within the flyssa/wedding flyssa scheme of things. Given the date of the diorama, I wonder if the daggers in question were transitional between the classic flyssa and the wedding flyssa. Like the daggers shown in the post, my knife has a curved blade typical of the wedding flyssas but the blade engraving, while not up to the quality of the classic flyssa, is of better quality than the typical wedding flyssa. The hilts and cross guards of the wedding flyssas also differ markedly from those on my and G Mansfield's daggers. The hilt and scabbard of my dagger are wood which is sheathed in embossed, low grade silver. The scabbard decorations on the front and back are very different. The back shows what looks for all the world like a series of paired daleths. The blade is about 35.5cm (about 14 in) long and the spine at the hilt is about 6mm (about 7/32 in) thick. While I wouldn't want to fend off a lion with it, the blade appears to be adequate enough for civilian combat. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images