A Very Fine Hanzer Koummya
Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco
Early 20th century (ca. 1925 -1935)
Elephant ivory, silver, steel
Blade: 22,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 40cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 43,2cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 295

Ex. Hermann Historica: Munich, Germany (2021)
Ex. Czerny's: Sarzana, Italy (2019)

A fine example of the hanzer type of Moroccan koummya, very likely coming from the city of Marrakech. The steel blade is well made, quite heavy with a thick spine and stamped with an unknown maker's mark at the base. The hilt is carved from elephant ivory, capped with a silver lunate peacock tail pommel chiseled in Arabesque with the collar in the same manner.

Its heavy silver sheath is also chisled in Arabesque decoration, florals, and scrolls with two silver suspension rings. The ram's head hallmark is stamped on the sheath collar, suspension ring, and chape bulb ring. The ram's head hallmark dates this koummya to after 1925 with similar examples circa 1930.

• https://www.rswordantiqueblades.com/sold#/new-gallery-432/

• https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/five-moroccna-koummyas-19th-20th-century-1091-c-1c94ad497c?objectID=165901850&algIndex=undefined&queryID=7bcb30099c047c7c30fd16baa443ce1d

• https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-fine-koummya-599-c-86c4736a68?objectID=140894161&algIndex=undefined&queryID=a22caf0f292b62088928fad4caa3f70b

• Claude, Eric. “The Small Catalog of Moroccan and Algerian Edged Weapons”. 2020. Pages 44 - 45 and 58 – 59

• Spring, Christopher. “African Arms and Armor”. 1993. Pages 24 – 26 (Info.)

• https://oriental-arms.com/product/very-fine-moroccan-koumaya-dagger-from-marrakech/

• http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=1761

• https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-nice-koummiya-45-c-8aa6399a1a?objectID=90139388&algIndex=undefined&queryID=4ed3cf574891effeb946baad88f2f867

• https://www.penn.museum/collections/object_images.php?irn=191682