Shashka for comments

TVV · 29th December 2013, 01:30 AM

My friend from Bulgaria has asked me to post this shashka here for comments. It is a bit unusual, with a scabbard with brass mounts with floral motives, which to me appear to be of Ottoman influence, but I may be wrong. There is a cartouche on one side with some script or an imitation of a script. On the other side, there is an interesting symbol: a beast like moon? Has anyone seen a similar symbol, and would anyone venture a guess as to dating and area of origin?

Thank you,
Teodor

Martin Lubojacky · 31st December 2013, 01:06 PM

Hi Teodor,
I am not expert in shashkas, I have no one. I just give my I "hope fair-minded" standpoint.
The floral motive is Ottoman, but not the style which used to be used on mountings of scabbards. This is imitation of style, which, I think, was used on brocades and/or tiles during Ottoman period. That means (for me) that somebody repaired the scabbard of this Caucasian shashka in Turkey and he simply added motives which he liked. As far as the moon-like symbol showing teeth is concerned, this, I would guess, is pure fancy of the later owner, who wanted the blade to be "nicer" (I saw old blade of Cherkez kinjal, artsy decorated in similar way - with Turkish symbols (moon and star engraved and inlayed with gold) recently.
I don´t kow how old the shaskha is, but the new decorations maybe from thirties till now.
I am enclosing motives (but as I said - tiles and textile, no weapons) from the book "Authentic Turkish Designs"

Regards,
Martin

TVV · 31st December 2013, 06:33 PM

Thank you Martin,

I think what you wrote makes perfect sense. After their displacement by Russia, a lot of Circassians were dispersed within the Ottoman Empire, which gave them shelter. Alternatively, this shashka may be from South-West Georgia in the areas that were under heavy Ottoman influence.

Regards,
Teodor

ArmsAndAntiques · 1st January 2014, 06:12 PM

The blade designs appear to be more related to ones I've seen on Bukharan Central Asian shashka blades than on Caucasian examples. Though the shape does appear to be less Bukharan than Caucasian. Perhaps a Bukharan craftsman made the blade.

Jim McDougall · 2nd January 2014, 03:26 AM

While Martin may claim no expertise in shashkas, I think he has brilliantly assessed this example, and excellent suggestion and presentation on the Ottoman motif.
I also claim no particular authority on these, but have of course been engaged in research on them on many occasions in certain degree. I would suggest perhaps that this blade may be from mid 19th into around 1870s and is likely Chechen. Reviewing Askhabov (2001, p.129) an example with blade having somewhat similar paneled fullering is from the aul of Dargo (I believe near Grozny).

I agree that this shashka has been refurbished, and it seems that the ornamentation on the scabbard mounts do appear to be 'copied' as well shown by Martin. I would suggest rather than necessarily being done in Turkey, this may have been completed in the industrious commerce in Tblisi, where many Transcaucasian artisans worked.

I agree also that the decorative design on the blade resembles the kind of fanciful and geometric devices seen on many blades of Chechen regions.
I was noting the several drilled or stamped punctions in the cartouche, and believe the makers in Dargo may have used these as a kind of coded signature if I understand correctly the circumstances there during the Murid Wars. That is of course hypothetical on my part.

Definitely an intriguing example!

TVV · 2nd January 2014, 09:37 PM

Thank you your input Gentlemen,

I also thought about a Central Asian origin of the blade, but the hilt and scabbard are very non-Central Asian, and I am yet to see evidence of Bukharan blades flowing west, as opposed to the other way around which is well documented. Chechen work may be a very good guess, and I will look at Askhabov's book for similar examples. Per Rivkin, Tiflis was indeed a major sword production and trade center, and the script may be in Georgian or an imitation of Georgian. For what it is worth, the sword was collected (and still remains) in the Balkans, so at least the concluding point of its journey is known.

I suspect that if anyone can read the script or at least identify what language it is intended to resemble, it may provide a great clue on the blade's origin.

Teodor

29th December 2013, 01:30 AM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,599	Shashka for comments My friend from Bulgaria has asked me to post this shashka here for comments. It is a bit unusual, with a scabbard with brass mounts with floral motives, which to me appear to be of Ottoman influence, but I may be wrong. There is a cartouche on one side with some script or an imitation of a script. On the other side, there is an interesting symbol: a beast like moon? Has anyone seen a similar symbol, and would anyone venture a guess as to dating and area of origin? Thank you, Teodor Attached Images

31st December 2013, 01:06 PM	#2
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	Hi Teodor, I am not expert in shashkas, I have no one. I just give my I "hope fair-minded" standpoint. The floral motive is Ottoman, but not the style which used to be used on mountings of scabbards. This is imitation of style, which, I think, was used on brocades and/or tiles during Ottoman period. That means (for me) that somebody repaired the scabbard of this Caucasian shashka in Turkey and he simply added motives which he liked. As far as the moon-like symbol showing teeth is concerned, this, I would guess, is pure fancy of the later owner, who wanted the blade to be "nicer" (I saw old blade of Cherkez kinjal, artsy decorated in similar way - with Turkish symbols (moon and star engraved and inlayed with gold) recently. I don´t kow how old the shaskha is, but the new decorations maybe from thirties till now. I am enclosing motives (but as I said - tiles and textile, no weapons) from the book "Authentic Turkish Designs" Regards, Martin Attached Images

31st December 2013, 06:33 PM	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,599	Thank you Martin, I think what you wrote makes perfect sense. After their displacement by Russia, a lot of Circassians were dispersed within the Ottoman Empire, which gave them shelter. Alternatively, this shashka may be from South-West Georgia in the areas that were under heavy Ottoman influence. Regards, Teodor

1st January 2014, 06:12 PM	#4
ArmsAndAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 80	The blade designs appear to be more related to ones I've seen on Bukharan Central Asian shashka blades than on Caucasian examples. Though the shape does appear to be less Bukharan than Caucasian. Perhaps a Bukharan craftsman made the blade.

2nd January 2014, 03:26 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,765	While Martin may claim no expertise in shashkas, I think he has brilliantly assessed this example, and excellent suggestion and presentation on the Ottoman motif. I also claim no particular authority on these, but have of course been engaged in research on them on many occasions in certain degree. I would suggest perhaps that this blade may be from mid 19th into around 1870s and is likely Chechen. Reviewing Askhabov (2001, p.129) an example with blade having somewhat similar paneled fullering is from the aul of Dargo (I believe near Grozny). I agree that this shashka has been refurbished, and it seems that the ornamentation on the scabbard mounts do appear to be 'copied' as well shown by Martin. I would suggest rather than necessarily being done in Turkey, this may have been completed in the industrious commerce in Tblisi, where many Transcaucasian artisans worked. I agree also that the decorative design on the blade resembles the kind of fanciful and geometric devices seen on many blades of Chechen regions. I was noting the several drilled or stamped punctions in the cartouche, and believe the makers in Dargo may have used these as a kind of coded signature if I understand correctly the circumstances there during the Murid Wars. That is of course hypothetical on my part. Definitely an intriguing example!

2nd January 2014, 09:37 PM	#6
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,599	Thank you your input Gentlemen, I also thought about a Central Asian origin of the blade, but the hilt and scabbard are very non-Central Asian, and I am yet to see evidence of Bukharan blades flowing west, as opposed to the other way around which is well documented. Chechen work may be a very good guess, and I will look at Askhabov's book for similar examples. Per Rivkin, Tiflis was indeed a major sword production and trade center, and the script may be in Georgian or an imitation of Georgian. For what it is worth, the sword was collected (and still remains) in the Balkans, so at least the concluding point of its journey is known. I suspect that if anyone can read the script or at least identify what language it is intended to resemble, it may provide a great clue on the blade's origin. Teodor