A koummya- and contexts

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Yuri,

At the hole of the back handle scale I see something like porousness as well at the side view so I guess that it is some sort of bone but like always I could be wrong.

Best regards,
Detlef

Thanks, Detlef!

The hole is sealed with glue; apparently, there used to be some kind of decoration there. I cleaned the hole a bit and examined it with a magnifying glass and flashlight. The structure is dense and non-porous, with no visible dentin. The thickness is similar to the ends of the handle.

Sincerely,
Yuri

[TVV]

I personally value craftsmanship and overall quality and esthetics above materials used. To me therefore whether the hilt is ivory or not would not be that important. Yuri's koummiya is very well made, with a good imported blade and quality silver fittings, and clearly an antique. That is enough for me to call it a great example. With all the regulatory issues surrounding endangered species, there are also advantages to not having certain materials. Even if ivory is legal in Russia today, all it takes is one change in legislation to find yourself in a potential tricky situation.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by TVV

I personally value craftsmanship and overall quality and esthetics above materials used. To me therefore whether the hilt is ivory or not would not be that important. Yuri's koummiya is very well made, with a good imported blade and quality silver fittings, and clearly an antique. That is enough for me to call it a great example. With all the regulatory issues surrounding endangered species, there are also advantages to not having certain materials. Even if ivory is legal in Russia today, all it takes is one change in legislation to find yourself in a potential tricky situation.

Agree completely with you, it's a very nice koummya and it's not very important from which material the handle is from.

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by TVV

I personally value craftsmanship and overall quality and esthetics above materials used. To me therefore whether the hilt is ivory or not would not be that important. Yuri's koummiya is very well made, with a good imported blade and quality silver fittings, and clearly an antique. That is enough for me to call it a great example. With all the regulatory issues surrounding endangered species, there are also advantages to not having certain materials. Even if ivory is legal in Russia today, all it takes is one change in legislation to find yourself in a potential tricky situation.

I completely agree with you about the aesthetics and artistic value of the item. I haven't come across a decent kummiya in a long time; unfortunately, the market is flooded with cheap tourist specimens, which, in my opinion, only discredit this remarkable weapon. But it's always a good idea to explore all the nuances.

Regarding the imported blade, I don't entirely agree. I believe we underestimate the skill of Moroccan artisans, and not only Moroccan ones. Often, as soon as an extraordinary ethnographic object is discovered, the urge arises to label it as "imported."Regarding the imported blade, I don't entirely agree. I believe we underestimate the skill of Moroccan artisans, and not only Moroccan ones. Often, as soon as an extraordinary ethnographic object is discovered, the urge arises to label it as "imported."

Sincerely,
Yuri

[TVV]

Originally Posted by Pertinax

Я абсолютно с Вами согласен та счет эстетики и художественной ценности предмета. Мне давно не попадалась достойная куммия, к сожалению, рынок завален дешевыми туристическими экземплярами, которые, а мой взгляд только дискредитируют этот замечательный вид оружия. Но всегда хочется выяснить все нюансы.

На счет импортного клинка, я не совсем согласен, по-моему, мы не до оцениваем мастерство марокканских мастеров, да и не только марокканских. Зачастую, как только находится неординарный этнографический предмет, возникает желание приписать его к «импорту».

Sincerely,
Yuri

While I can understand Russian, most others here cannot, and we should stick to English so they can follow the discussion.

You could be right about the blade. There were however blades imported from France after Morocco became a protectorate, like the ones marked at the forte with a steamship or Napoleon III's face, etc. and the Latin numerals seem to point in that direction. It does not mean that local smiths could not make good blades, simply the combination of factory mass produced blades of good steel quality available at an affordable price created a market for imports.

[Pertinax]

[QUOTE=TVV;300633]While I can understand Russian, most others here cannot, and we should stick to English so they can follow the discussion.

I'm sorry, it was a mistake.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pertinax

The hole is sealed with glue; apparently, there used to be some kind of decoration there. I cleaned the hole a bit and examined it with a magnifying glass and flashlight. The structure is dense and non-porous, with no visible dentin. The thickness is similar to the ends of the handle.

Like TVV said, your koummya is a very nice and high quality one, for me it wouldn't be too important from which material the handle is made!

Best regards,
Detlef