Qama
Available: $950 + Shipping
Qama
Erivan Governorate (Yerevan, Armenia) - Tiflis Governorate (Tbilisi, Georgia) Caucasus Viceroyalty of Russian Empire
Last half of the 19th century (Possible date of 1894/95)
Steel, gold, walrus ivory, wood, leather, metal alloy
Blade: 38,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 51,4cm
Hilt, Blade, & Sheath: 52cm
Collection Number: 302
Collection Date: 2022
Ex. American Art Market (2022)
A heavy and well decorated qama sword originating from the Transcaucasian region, likely in Yerevan, Armenia, or Tbilisi, Georgia. The thick, double-edged steel blade features a deep offset central fuller, decorated on one side with fine gold overlay, including bird heads, volutes, and floral motifs. There is possibly the Arabic number "12" is overlaid very small in the lower bird's head, possibly suggesting a Hijri date of (13)12 or 1894/5 in Gregorian. The steel of the blade is of very good quality and quite heavy.
The is hilt is composed in two slabs of walrus ivory, connected by iron ogival pins (golmikhs) overlaid in gold decoration. The iron side straps are also adorned with gold scroll motifs all around. The wood slab sheath with remnants of the covering leather. An iron baldric loop with gold scroll motifs is present along with a later replaced chape of a metal alloy (tin brass?).
This piece arrived in poor condition. Some work went into revitalizing it back to the condition seen here. The blade is pitted, and there are minor losses to the gold work, stable cracks to the ivory, and nearly all the leather on the sheath is now gone. Regardless, it still presents itself as a beautiful example of the type and a fine quality piece with minor losses.
[1] Manouchehr, Moshtagh Khorasani. “Arms and Armor from Iran”. 2006. Page 578 Cat. 204
[2] Skralivetsky, Evgeny Borisovich. “Eastern Weapons”. 2013. Page 343
[3] Obratzsov, Vsevolod. “Oriental Arms and Armour in the Hermitage Collection”. Page 148 -149 (Bird decoration)
[4] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=2859
[5] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=8218
[6] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=2746
[7] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4272
[8] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-persian-qama-19th-century-3026-c-03f4862ab3?objectID=174310774&algIndex=undefined&queryID=46aaf2ddc0c354c7fda8f87c7dd8e3e2 (Sold $1,763 including premium October 2022)
[9] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-beautiful-qama-153-c-cd84b4d963?objectID=165578027&algIndex=undefined&queryID=46aaf2ddc0c354c7fda8f87c7dd8e3e2 (Sold $20,200 including premium November 2021)
[12] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/19th-century-caucasian-kindjal-130-c-fcb4d3f9e8?objectID=175423783&algIndex=undefined&queryID=e8d6d95f27b38f9fbac6639777bbfc98 (Sold $795 including premium (November 2022)
[13] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/19th-century-caucasian-kindjal-with-scabbard-177-c-9f4487a8be?objectID=169939129&algIndex=undefined&queryID=48707988404ea725124e3c3bc088f3fc (Sold $4,410 including premium April 2022)
[14] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/kindjal-dagger-with-gilt-inlaywork-caucasus-19th--345-c-9664dac850?objectID=164493083&algIndex=undefined&queryID=48707988404ea725124e3c3bc088f3fc (Sold $1,040 including premium September 2021