Canarian Naife
Naife
Province of Canary Islands, Spain (Canary Islands, Spain)
May 22, 1895
Steel, nickel silver, horn, bone, brass, metal inlay
Blade: 17,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 23,5cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 24,1cm
Collection Date: 2023
Collection Number: 329
Ex. Sword and Antique Weapoms: Brisbane, Australia (2023)
A small naife or cuchillo canario (Canarian knife) of very fine craftsmanship originating from the Spanish Canary Islands off of the coast of northwestern Africa. The blade is single-edged steel straight back with a "Spanish notch." One side of the blade is decorated in stippled floral motifs while the reverse face stippled "Mayo 22 De 1895." Some lamination cracks on the blade. Nickel silver bolster with linear incision engravings. Small "X" marked on the base of the spine with multiple linear incisions.
The hilt is composed of finely stacked alternating discs of horn and bone with complex strips of brass and metal inlay. Nickel silver pommel bulb. Dyed leather sheath with sewn in leather belt clip. One of the nicest examples of the type, complete with sheath and dated to the late 19th century. A very fine example of the type.
Photograph 8: Portrait of Benito "El Fraile" (The Friar), a farmer from Gáldar, Gran Canaria. Ca.1880–1890. Photograph taken by Luis Ojeda Pérez.
Photograph 9: "Cho Bartolo y familia, Gáldar (Gran Canaria)", capturing a farmer and his family in the Canary Islands around the late 19th century. Photographed by Jean Laurent who worked in Spain during the 19th century.
[1] https://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s2189_full.html (Link now broken)
[2] http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s1785_full.html (Link now broken
[3] https://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s2348_full.html (Link now broken)
[4] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3877
[5] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3758
[6] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=8516