A Fine Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword
A Fine Kabyle Flyssa (Flissa) Sword
Iflissen Lebhar Tribal Confederacy
Kabylia, French Algeria (Algeria)
Last half 19th century (ca. 1870)
Steel, wood, brass
Blade: 90,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 102,9cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2016
Deaccessioned: 2024
Collection Number: 9
The flissa is the traditional weapon of the Iflissen Kabyles, a Berber ethnic 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 with a longer length than the average at 102,9cm. The straight single- edged steel blade is elongated with a slight outward curve, then recurving into a sharp point. Traditional brass inlays and motifs are inlaid for the first three- quarters of the blade, as well as the elaborate scrollwork on the spine. The handle is carved from wood in the form of an animal head (camel, dog, bird, chimara) covered in brass repoussé scrollwork and linear designs. Steel bolster with inlaid brass. It had been extensively cleaned by the previous owner with the spine unpolished, showing the original dark grey patina. A fine flyssa sword of longer proportions with elaborate decorative brass work.
Photograph 11: Kabyle Warrior with Musket and Flyssa, 1842 -1846. By Jules Alfred Vincent Rigo.
Photograph 12: Kabyle Warrior with Musket and Flyssa. 19th century.
Photograph 13: Mannequin of a Kabyle warrior in full kit. Ca. 1830.
[1} Claude, Eric. 2020. “The Small Catalog of Moroccan and Algerian Edged Weapons”. Page 164 – 167
[2] Hales, Robert. 2013. "Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour". Page 240: No. 593
[3] Spring, Christopher. 1993. “African Arms and Armor”. Pages 21 -24
[4] Tirri, Anthony C. 2003. “Islamic Weapons Maghrib to Moghul”. Page 25, Figure 8
[5] Tirri, Anthony C. 2007. “Islamic and Native Weapons of Colonial Africa 1800 - 1960”. Page 620, Figure 11-33
[6] https://www.helgot.com/items/flyssa-sword
[7] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3176
[8] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5787