Silver Assib Jambiya from Dhamar or Tihama, Yemen

The richness and variety of Yemenite Jambiya sometimes complicate accurate identification. Influence of styles and decoration technique from Saudi Arabia in the north and Oman in the east makes it more difficult.

Yemenite Jambiya are grouped in several styles, mainly depending on the social level of the owner.  The style known as Assib is usually worn by lower class tribal people. It is found all over Yemen with big variety of material and decoration styles.

The Assib  offered here is most probably coming from the Dhamar Mountainous region or from the Tihama  on the eastern coast of the red sea. It is a whole silver exemplar that show some influence from the Saudi Mecca style Jambiya. Classical good quality double edge curved blade with a pronounced central rib.  Whole silver handle and deeply curved scabbard with typical silver work.

Blade 7 1/2 inches (19 cm). Total length 13 inches (33 cm).heavy Jambiya  880 grams. Good exemplar of the late silver work in Yemen/ Second half of the 20C.