Persia / Middle East, Saudi Arabia, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE; Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A fine collection of two iron and wood swords and a dagger. The first is an impressive sword with a steel blade etched with triangular and linear motifs, and an abstract creature near the tip, perhaps a scorpion. Arabic characters on both sides at the center. An hourglass shaped wooden grip covers the tang and a brass coin is riveted to the pommel area. The sword has a sheath made of cloth covered with leather and snakeskin. The second weapon is Jambiya dagger with a large, curved blade, a wooden hilt wrapped with a brass wire grip, and capped by a brass pommel. A goat hide sewn together with sinew strips creates a sheath for the dagger. The last is a short sword with an interesting blade and waisted wooden grip. The sword sports a double-edged, spatula-shaped blade bearing a trio of protruding points, often called a Zairian sword. The tang is inserted into a wooden handle. The sheath is made from two panels of wood that are pierced along the perimeter and lashed together with rattan strips and goat hide straps for suspension. Large sword size of blade: 18.5" L x 2" W (47 cm x 5.1 cm); in sheath: 23" L x 2.25" W (58.4 cm x 5.7 cm); Zaire sword, just blade: 13.5" L x 3.375" W (34.3 cm x 8.6 cm); in sheath: 19.25" L x 4.675" W (48.9 cm x 11.9 cm); dagger blade: 10" L x 1.75" W (25.4 cm x 4.4 cm); in sheath: 18" L x 2.25" W (45.7 cm x 5.7 cm)

Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010

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#164780

Jambiya dagger: fraying and bending to tip of leather sheath. Pommel is slightly loose and brass wire grip is loosening an unraveling around guard area. Chips to wood under grip. Sword: chip and loss to wooden grip and stable pressure fissures. Nick to blade. Active flaking to leather sheath with perforations and tears. Fragile condition, unraveling to stitches and losses to leather and cloth. Zairian sword: patina on blade and minor nicks. Nice patina on wood grip and minor abrasions. Sheath is fragile with rattan fibers unraveling, with tearing and flaking to hide straps. Inactive insect holes and abrasions.