A gold-mounted jambiya dagger

Museum: Feldman Family Museum

The curved, double-edged blade is made of plain steel with a raised central rib on each side. The waisted gold hilt on the obverse side is set in the kundan technique with numerous gems arranged in a floral design. The reverse side is decorated in repoussé with flower heads and scrolled leaves. The base of the hilt is girded by a triple floral frieze. The wooden scabbard covered with dark red velvet. The gold scabbard chape is decorated en suite with the hilt. Total 85 rubies, 75 emeralds, and 54 diamonds on the hilt and scabbard.

COMMENT. Jambiya is the traditional Arab dagger with a waisted hilt and a relatively short but broad, curved, double-edged blade, which generally has a raised central rib on each side. The shapes of the pommel and scabbard vary depending on local traditions. The word "jambiya" derives from the Arabic jamb / janb meaning "side", although the dagger is traditionally worn in a scabbard attached to a belt or tucked into a belt in front of the body. The alternative spelling is janbiya, as well as janbiyya or janbia. The term "jambiya / janbiya" is most commonly used in the western parts of the Arabian Peninsula, mainly Yemen and Western Saudi Arabia, whereas in eastern parts of the Arabian Peninsula including Oman, the United Arab Emirates, as well as some areas of Saudi Arabia (Al-Hasa) and Yemen (Hadhramaut), this dagger type is referred to as khanjar. In addition, the term "jambiya / janbiya" is common in India, where the dagger came with merchants and mercenaries from Hadhramaut. Both the Arab jambiya and its local variations were popular here. The presented dagger is the product of long-standing cultural links between India and Yemen. It comes probably from the armoury of the Nizam of Hyderabad. For similar examples, see: Bonhams: Islamic & Indian Art. Tuesday 5 April 2011, London: [Auction Catalogue]. – London, 2011. – Lot 327; Christie’s: Art of the Islamic and Indian World. Thursday 25 April 2013, London, King Street: [Auction Catalogue]. – London, 2013. – Lot 188; Sotheby’s: Arts of the Islamic World. London, 9 April 2014: [Auction Catalogue]. – London, 2014. – Lot 136.

LITERATURE: 1) Hermann Historica München. 47. Auktion: Alte Waffen, Antiken, Jagdliches und Historische Sammlungsstücke. 13. Oktober 2004: [Auktionskatalog]. – München, 2004. – Los 400; 2) Сіваченко Є. Холодна зброя Індії XVII-XIX століть із збірки Музею приватних колекцій Олександра Фельдмана: [каталог виставки]. – Харків, 2011. – С. 25; 3) Сиваченко Е. Сталь и Золото: Восточное оружие из собрания Feldman Family Museum = Steel and Gold: Eastern Weapons from the Feldman Family Museum Collection. – Киев, 2019. – С. 476-477, №192.