A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

  • A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya

A Massive & Very Rare "Lion's Claw" Peacock Tail Koummya
Berber / Arab
Meknés, Kingdom of Morocco
Dated 1312 (1894/ 95))
Steel, rhinoceros horn, silver, wood
Blade: 20,3cm
Hilt & Blade: 35,6cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 38,7cm
Collection Date: 2024
Collection Number: 432

Ex: Harry Wagner Collection: Columbus, Ohio, USA (2024)

A very fine and rare "Lion's Claw" variation of koummya of massive proportions. The "Lion's claw" or "Boar's Tooth" were carried by the "makhzen" (dignitaries close to the black guard of the Sultan of Morocco). The black bodyguard was founded by Yusuf Ibn Tashfin in 1088 and reorganized by Mouley Ismail at the end of the 17th century and continues to this day.

The single-edged strongly curved steel blade has a deep fuller spanning the length of the thick spine. Each side has a pair of opposing "eyelash" stamps within the fuller. It is a Moroccan produced blade imitating the eyelash stamp of Genoa, Italy of the 17-18th centuries. The blade gets its name from the curved claw-like shape of the claw of a lion which was regarded as a symbol of power.

The massive rhinoceros horn grip of brown, black, and blonde color hues are capped in a silver lunate pommel in the peacock tail form, deeply chiseled with beautiful arabesque scrollwork along with its silver collar in the same manner.

The heavy silver sheath is also chiseled in arabesque motifs, florals, and scrolls with two silver baldric suspension rings. Both sides are hallmark stamped with the hijri date of "1312", corresponding to (1894/ 95) gregorian. Meknés in decoration style.

The blade with patina and some sharpening marks. Damage to the sheath. Both sheath and lunate caps have been soldered in an attempt to restore. A stunning and rare type of koummya to come by. A very large and heavy example.