Nice takouba sword for comments

francantolin · 21st July 2022, 01:46 PM

I forgot:
I think- guess the hilt had been strongly cleaned by the seller.

Kind regards

Lee · 21st July 2022, 04:06 PM

I have heard these relatively uncommon silver mounted takoubas referred to as "wedding" takoubas by a Tuareg owner of one. I suspect that they are mostly commissioned by more 'urban' Tuareg who have come into some cash, as opposed to chiefs living the traditional pastoral nomadic life. Of course, they often do 'end' as a prize for the traveler willing to overpay.

The silverwork (teben) is of a style typical for silversmithing done in Agadez, Niger. The five fullered blades are locally termed takouba tamougass. In my limited experience, the blades so mounted have been good old heirloom blades of European manufacture.

Besides details of workmanship and markings, the old trade blades will feel springy if you hold the blade at your side and slap the side of your leg with the flat. Locally made blades will feel more rigid and 'dead.' You can see that the blade has been reshaped by repeated sharpening, particularly the tip, suggesting it does have some age and probably had an earlier set of mountings.

You would more commonly see (two decades ago) many sorts of big 'fantasy' knives with a similar style of silverwork in the market. These were clearly for the tourist while a tourism 'industry' briefly existed in the area back then.

David R · 21st July 2022, 08:39 PM

Nice one, and a real "cut above" most of the Takouba seen here.

Battara · 22nd July 2022, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francantolin

I forgot:
I think- guess the hilt had been strongly cleaned by the seller.

Perhaps over cleaned to where patina is missing from the design grooves. That might explain a lot.

But mixing silver and nickel - not likely since the heat differentials would damage the silver.

Lee · 22nd July 2022, 12:57 PM

The condition of the silver appears unremarkable to me. I have a similar example before me, two decades out of the Sahara environment with brightness remaining to a good degree in many of the engraving cuts. My example was not new when I acquired it in Agadez. It may be that they do not use the sorts of silver polish that we do and that there is not much sulfur in the environment. (Silver stays bright without polishing where I live today, as well.) Now and then one of these might have been outside during a sandstorm and received a bit of a sandblasting as well. (I have read of the paint being removed from vehicles caught outside in such a storm.) I was also told that leatherwork could come to look very old after just about five years use in that environment. Age of our examples? - maybe 1980s to 1990s.

I have seen "the bird" before, but do not know its significance.

Marc M. · 23rd July 2022, 03:50 PM

Nice sword, mounds and scabbard are more modern. Blade looks older and is of a good quality, the 5 fullers are indeed rare. The fullers are well made, straight and equal and i think the blade is probably of European make.
Would like to find a sword like yours. Great buy.

Kind regards

Marc M. · 23rd July 2022, 04:01 PM

Very nice sword, mounds and scabbard are more modern than the blade.
Too me it look looks more Europian than local.
The fullers are straight and equal and the whole quality of the blade looks very good. Bird symbol looks local made.
Would like to find a sword like yours, great find.

Kind regards
Marc

francantolin · 23rd July 2022, 11:29 PM

Thank you all for the detailled comments !
Really nice model Lee !!

I thought earlier 40s-50s made silver work but...
Glad to hear the blade is an old one
heavy blade but flexible. Try to make ''sound'' it !

Edster · 24th July 2022, 07:11 PM

I noted five 5-fullered kaskaras in my Kaskara Fullers paper. One was collected in 1881-82 and mine was reported made in 1914 in Kassala. Five fullers are called Mukhammas.
From the paper"
"Mukhammas (Arabic ‘fivefold’) refers to a type of Persian or Urdu cinquain or
pentastich with Sufi connections based on a pentameter and have five lines in
each paragraph. More details here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukhammas

Native and Arabic poetry is a feature of Sudanese culture. But who would have thought that a special Kassala-made sword blade (5 channels are much more difficult to make than 3 fullers) would have a link to a Persian and Urdu (Muslim part of India) poetry form? There may be a prosaic explanation. Mukhammas may be just a grammatic feature of Arabic for Five = Khamsa, but I
prefer the poetry connection."

Your blade may have had a Sudanese connection, and likely origin. Five fullers would make your blade special regardless of its origin.

Best,
Ed

21st July 2022, 04:06 PM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 898	Yes, this is a good one I have heard these relatively uncommon silver mounted takoubas referred to as "wedding" takoubas by a Tuareg owner of one. I suspect that they are mostly commissioned by more 'urban' Tuareg who have come into some cash, as opposed to chiefs living the traditional pastoral nomadic life. Of course, they often do 'end' as a prize for the traveler willing to overpay. The silverwork (teben) is of a style typical for silversmithing done in Agadez, Niger. The five fullered blades are locally termed takouba tamougass. In my limited experience, the blades so mounted have been good old heirloom blades of European manufacture. Besides details of workmanship and markings, the old trade blades will feel springy if you hold the blade at your side and slap the side of your leg with the flat. Locally made blades will feel more rigid and 'dead.' You can see that the blade has been reshaped by repeated sharpening, particularly the tip, suggesting it does have some age and probably had an earlier set of mountings. You would more commonly see (two decades ago) many sorts of big 'fantasy' knives with a similar style of silverwork in the market. These were clearly for the tourist while a tourism 'industry' briefly existed in the area back then.

22nd July 2022, 12:57 PM	#5
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 898	The condition of the silver appears unremarkable to me. I have a similar example before me, two decades out of the Sahara environment with brightness remaining to a good degree in many of the engraving cuts. My example was not new when I acquired it in Agadez. It may be that they do not use the sorts of silver polish that we do and that there is not much sulfur in the environment. (Silver stays bright without polishing where I live today, as well.) Now and then one of these might have been outside during a sandstorm and received a bit of a sandblasting as well. (I have read of the paint being removed from vehicles caught outside in such a storm.) I was also told that leatherwork could come to look very old after just about five years use in that environment. Age of our examples? - maybe 1980s to 1990s. I have seen "the bird" before, but do not know its significance. Attached Images Last edited by Lee; 22nd July 2022 at 04:36 PM. Reason: add additional images

21st July 2022, 01:46 PM	#1
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 831	I forgot: I think- guess the hilt had been strongly cleaned by the seller. Kind regards

21st July 2022, 08:39 PM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,055	Nice one, and a real "cut above" most of the Takouba seen here.

23rd July 2022, 03:50 PM	#6
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 116	Nice sword, mounds and scabbard are more modern. Blade looks older and is of a good quality, the 5 fullers are indeed rare. The fullers are well made, straight and equal and i think the blade is probably of European make. Would like to find a sword like yours. Great buy. Kind regards

23rd July 2022, 04:01 PM	#7
Marc M. Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Belgium Posts: 116	Very nice sword, mounds and scabbard are more modern than the blade. Too me it look looks more Europian than local. The fullers are straight and equal and the whole quality of the blade looks very good. Bird symbol looks local made. Would like to find a sword like yours, great find. Kind regards Marc

23rd July 2022, 11:29 PM	#8
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 831	Thank you all for the detailled comments ! Really nice model Lee !! I thought earlier 40s-50s made silver work but... Glad to hear the blade is an old one heavy blade but flexible. Try to make ''sound'' it !

24th July 2022, 07:11 PM	#9
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 401	I noted five 5-fullered kaskaras in my Kaskara Fullers paper. One was collected in 1881-82 and mine was reported made in 1914 in Kassala. Five fullers are called Mukhammas. From the paper" "Mukhammas (Arabic ‘fivefold’) refers to a type of Persian or Urdu cinquain or pentastich with Sufi connections based on a pentameter and have five lines in each paragraph. More details here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukhammas Native and Arabic poetry is a feature of Sudanese culture. But who would have thought that a special Kassala-made sword blade (5 channels are much more difficult to make than 3 fullers) would have a link to a Persian and Urdu (Muslim part of India) poetry form? There may be a prosaic explanation. Mukhammas may be just a grammatic feature of Arabic for Five = Khamsa, but I prefer the poetry connection." Your blade may have had a Sudanese connection, and likely origin. Five fullers would make your blade special regardless of its origin. Best, Ed