Yemeni sword

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 23rd August 2019, 09:44 PM

Please see #13 where the link takes a look at the provenance of this style Quote"

A RARE CENTRAL ASIAN BROADSWORD

Description

A quite similar example depicted in the ninth-century fresco of a mounted Samanid ruler at Nishapur allows attribution of the form. The distinctive guardless hilt silvered or gilt, with an expanded ferrule and cylindrical grip, embossed and engraved overall with vinework, the bud-form pommel spirally fluted. The exceptionally long, straight, double-edged blade with evidence of wootz forging, a short central fuller to either side and a polygonal maker’s mark inscribed, WORK OF HASSAN [?] struck twice on either side. In its wooden scabbard with velvet covering, the locket and chape embossed and engraved en suite with the hilt, the suspension bands with openwork decoration. Beginning of the 19th century. Light wear, small area of pitting to blade. Very rarely encountered, probably a coronation sword.Overall length 101.3 cm. Condition I "Unquote>

What makes this sword seemingly difficult to get placed is its absence from museums although the Wallace has one... I tend to view the likelihood of a relationship to the Omani Battlesword as very tentative. The above expert portrayal pointing to 19thC seems possible and perhaps the work of Jewish craftsmen...either Bukharen or Yemeni. Some sort of very late influence from Omai Battlesword ..Sayf Yemaani to Bukharen or to Yemeni influence seems implausible..The Omani Battlesword did not influence Yemeni Battleswords 900 years after it is known to have been in service in the 11th/ 12thC. however may fit as a commissioned sword from Bukharen to Cairo for a dignitary and that may be the track of its provenance … I tend to suspect Mecca as the purchasing point for such a VIP weapon but am open to suggestions on this...

Jim McDougall · 23rd August 2019, 10:35 PM

Two of these spherical pommel swords are shown by Michael Blalock on 11 May 2005. He notes these as Yemeni, but with connection to Bukhara, with explanation as follows:
" ....Mir-I-Madrasa (1535)
The Mir-i-Arab madrassah with the Mosque Bukhara's main kosh ensemble.
Under the left dome are buried Uyaydullah Khan (one of the first
Bukharen royals to not have his own mausoleum) and sheikh Mir-i-Arab after whom the madrasa is named. He is variously described as an architect, a YEMENI merchant and spiritual mentor of the early Sheibanids".

Michael here notes, "..this explains how a Central Asian sword could have
ended up in Yemen in the 1960s".

Auctions Imperial (3/16/2013, lot #230)
A CENTRAL ASIAN BROADSWORD . The description notes that this sword (of the type hilt described as Yemeni in these discussions noted in current thread) and that the item is of 19th c. and from the EMIRATE OF BUKHARA.
Supporting references are "A Song in Metal" Abdullayev, the Moser collection, Coe ("Swords and Hilt Weapons"p.141); "Szabla Wschodnia i jej Typu Naradowe" Jarnuszkiewicz, plate 11.
Also noted is a reference to a frescoe with image of a Samanid king with similar, 9th century, at Nishapur.

Yucel, "Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths", shows a 15th century Mamluk sword with this type of hilt.

To the SPIRAL banding:

Artzi (Oriental Arms) 11 May 2005, notes a 19th c. sa'if in a museum in San'a and that the original scabbards for these type swords usually include a SILVER STRIP spirally bound on them. A very similar SPIRAL binding is also COMMON ON BUKHARA swords as well as on other oriental swords.

Top images:

Left: the two swords posted by M.Blalock 2005, as Yemeni
next: The 15th c.Mamluk sword in Yucel.
" The Auctions Imperial example, 19th c Emirate of Bukhara
" My Hadhramauti sa'if (Elgood, Lebedynsky, et al)
right: one of these hilts but pommel more pointed ovoid as seen on
the Bukharen scabbard tips in my previous (one with
silver spiral band).

23rd August 2019, 09:44 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Please see #13 where the link takes a look at the provenance of this style Quote" A RARE CENTRAL ASIAN BROADSWORD Description A quite similar example depicted in the ninth-century fresco of a mounted Samanid ruler at Nishapur allows attribution of the form. The distinctive guardless hilt silvered or gilt, with an expanded ferrule and cylindrical grip, embossed and engraved overall with vinework, the bud-form pommel spirally fluted. The exceptionally long, straight, double-edged blade with evidence of wootz forging, a short central fuller to either side and a polygonal maker’s mark inscribed, WORK OF HASSAN [?] struck twice on either side. In its wooden scabbard with velvet covering, the locket and chape embossed and engraved en suite with the hilt, the suspension bands with openwork decoration. Beginning of the 19th century. Light wear, small area of pitting to blade. Very rarely encountered, probably a coronation sword.Overall length 101.3 cm. Condition I "Unquote> What makes this sword seemingly difficult to get placed is its absence from museums although the Wallace has one... I tend to view the likelihood of a relationship to the Omani Battlesword as very tentative. The above expert portrayal pointing to 19thC seems possible and perhaps the work of Jewish craftsmen...either Bukharen or Yemeni. Some sort of very late influence from Omai Battlesword ..Sayf Yemaani to Bukharen or to Yemeni influence seems implausible..The Omani Battlesword did not influence Yemeni Battleswords 900 years after it is known to have been in service in the 11th/ 12thC. however may fit as a commissioned sword from Bukharen to Cairo for a dignitary and that may be the track of its provenance … I tend to suspect Mecca as the purchasing point for such a VIP weapon but am open to suggestions on this... Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 23rd August 2019 at 10:48 PM.

23rd August 2019, 10:35 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Two of these spherical pommel swords are shown by Michael Blalock on 11 May 2005. He notes these as Yemeni, but with connection to Bukhara, with explanation as follows: " ....Mir-I-Madrasa (1535) The Mir-i-Arab madrassah with the Mosque Bukhara's main kosh ensemble. Under the left dome are buried Uyaydullah Khan (one of the first Bukharen royals to not have his own mausoleum) and sheikh Mir-i-Arab after whom the madrasa is named. He is variously described as an architect, a YEMENI merchant and spiritual mentor of the early Sheibanids". Michael here notes, "..this explains how a Central Asian sword could have ended up in Yemen in the 1960s". Auctions Imperial (3/16/2013, lot #230) A CENTRAL ASIAN BROADSWORD . The description notes that this sword (of the type hilt described as Yemeni in these discussions noted in current thread) and that the item is of 19th c. and from the EMIRATE OF BUKHARA. Supporting references are "A Song in Metal" Abdullayev, the Moser collection, Coe ("Swords and Hilt Weapons"p.141); "Szabla Wschodnia i jej Typu Naradowe" Jarnuszkiewicz, plate 11. Also noted is a reference to a frescoe with image of a Samanid king with similar, 9th century, at Nishapur. Yucel, "Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths", shows a 15th century Mamluk sword with this type of hilt. To the SPIRAL banding: Artzi (Oriental Arms) 11 May 2005, notes a 19th c. sa'if in a museum in San'a and that the original scabbards for these type swords usually include a SILVER STRIP spirally bound on them. A very similar SPIRAL binding is also COMMON ON BUKHARA swords as well as on other oriental swords. Top images: Left: the two swords posted by M.Blalock 2005, as Yemeni next: The 15th c.Mamluk sword in Yucel. " The Auctions Imperial example, 19th c Emirate of Bukhara " My Hadhramauti sa'if (Elgood, Lebedynsky, et al) right: one of these hilts but pommel more pointed ovoid as seen on the Bukharen scabbard tips in my previous (one with silver spiral band). Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 23rd August 2019 at 10:48 PM.