A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

  • A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword

A Very Fine & Rare Early Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword
Iflissen Lebhar Tribal Confederacy
Kabylia, Regency of Algiers, Ottoman Algeria (Algeria)
Early 19th century (ca. 1800)
Wood, brass, iron
Blade: 60,3cm (5,7cm max width)
Hilt & Blade: 73,3cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2024
Collection Number: 451

Ex. French Private Collection (2024)

The flissa is the traditional weapon of the Iflissen Kabyles, an ethnic Berber group originating from the Atlas Mountain Range in Northern Algeria. Their weapons range from small knives to very long swords, most of which are very consistent in design using brass inlays and geometric motifs.

This example is the sword version of an early form derived from the Ottoman yataghan. Older flyssas have a more solid, simpler construction, have a better weight balance, and are usually less fanciful than their later counterparts. They are also shorter in dimensions and have a broader recurve to the blade.

The straight single- edged steel blade is broad with an outward curve before recurving at 3/4 blades length tapering into an acute sharp point. The blade reaches a maximum width at 5,7cm, which is very wide for a flyssa. Traditional triangular geometric brass inlays, scrollwork, and zig-zags are inlaid and engraved for almost the entirety of the blade. The last 1/4 length of blade has a false edge. Of interest are the diamond shaped motifs at either end of the blade, likely a symbol in warding off the evil eye in Amazigh culture. Thickened spine with brass scrolls. Steel bolster inlaid with brass scrollwork and zig- zag patterns. The zoomorphic shaped handle is carved from wood riveted to the tang and covered in brass sheet decorated in scroll and line work incisions. Some loss of brass to the handle.

A powerful and early true fighting sword of the Kabyle. Having a very wide blade with highly decorated brass panels of superb quality. It's one of the nicest old style flyssa swords that I have seen.