Arabian Brass Dallah Coffee Pot (Crossed Swords Engraving and Etched Foliate Design), Circa 1950s 🇸🇦☕️⚔️

This is a top-shelf, highly ornamental Arabian Dallah (traditional coffee pot), meticulously crafted from brass with intricate dark metal etching.

The Dallah is classified as a primary cultural artifact, central to the timeless ritual of Arabic hospitality and coffee service (Gahwa).

Its value is secured by the verifiable Arabic engravings on the base, including the powerful symbol of crossed swords, and its dense, traditional foliate decoration.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨ The vessel is a traditional Dallah, defined by its long, curved beak-like spout, tall, spiked conical finial, and the hinged domed lid. It is made of heavy brass, which is extensively decorated with a technique involving etching/engraving through the brass to create a detailed, contrasting pattern of foliate scrolls and waves.

The base is a key document, featuring a deeply engraved roundel of Arabic script centered by an oval cartouche containing crossed swords. This symbol is associated with military prowess and regional authority. The distinctive form is often identified with the coffee culture of the Hejaz or Najd regions of the Arabian Peninsula.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️ This Dallah is the product of master metalworkers from the Middle East or North Africa, carrying on a centuries-old tradition of ornamental brass and copper work. While the exact workshop is unknown without a full translation of the radial script on the base, the technique is a hallmark of Egyptian and Syrian artisan traditions that produced high-quality items for the Gulf and global export markets.

The cultural integrity of the piece is confirmed by the use of traditional Arabic calligraphy and symbolism (the crossed swords), linking it directly to the deep-seated cultural importance of the coffee ritual in the Arab world.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 This Dallah was likely manufactured in the Mid-20th Century (Circa 1940s–1970s). This period saw the rise of global travel and tourism, leading to increased demand for traditional, ornamental souvenirs and housewares from the Middle East.

The pot is a tangible artifact of the centuries-old tradition of Gahwa, which involves the ceremonial brewing and serving of cardamom-spiced coffee. The ritual remains a central expression of hospitality and social hierarchy across the Arabian Peninsula. The piece serves as a time capsule of post-war global consumerism that drove the export of these highly ornate cultural items.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️ This ornamental Dallah is an essential acquisition for a curator of Middle Eastern Decorative Arts, Arabic Cultural Artifacts, or World Metalware.

It is ideally suited for a collector who specializes in documented cultural vessels and recognizes the iconographic significance of the crossed swords motif. The item’s strong cultural pedigree and intricate metalwork ensure it belongs in a sophisticated, globally-focused collection.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ This Dallah is approximately 50 to 80 years old, having survived decades of existence and the delicate nature of its applied metallic finish.

Its Bibliographical Scarcity is moderate—these were mass-produced export items—but its value is enhanced by the Aesthetic Premium of the intricate, dense engraving and the verifiable crossed-swords symbol on the base. The pot’s worth is secured by its authentic cultural function and its ornate visual quality.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ The physical condition has been assessed directly from the provided high-resolution photography. The object is deemed to be in Good Vintage Condition, showing expected age and patina.

• Structural Integrity: The body, spout, handle, and finial are structurally sound.

• Patina: The brass exhibits heavy, natural oxidation and patina, giving the piece a rich, antiqued appearance.

• Decoration: The etched foliate design is clear across the body, though the dark patina is unevenly worn.

• Markings: The engraved Arabic script and the crossed swords cartouche on the base are deeply inscribed and verifiable.

• Sticker: The original green Arabic retail sticker is partially intact on the body.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Gahwa Ritual: The traditional coffee made in this pot is not dark espresso, but a lightly roasted, pale amber coffee spiced with cardamom, which is poured from a height to create a foam.

• The Spout's Purpose: The long, thin spout is designed to allow the server to pour the coffee into small, handleless cups (finjan) without spilling, a crucial component of the service ritual.

• Crossed Swords: The crossed swords are a key symbol in the Arabian Peninsula, famously featured on the Saudi Arabian national emblem.

• Hejaz Tradition: The coffee ritual is believed to have originated in the Hejaz region (Western Saudi Arabia, including Mecca) and spread from there to the rest of the Arab world.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Object Type: Arabian Dallah Coffee Pot (Ornamental Metalware)

• Title: Arabian Brass Dallah Coffee Pot (Crossed Swords Engraving)

• Maker: Unattributed Middle Eastern Artisan

• Year/Period: Circa 1950s–1970s

• Place of Origin: Middle East / North Africa (Likely Egypt or Syria)

• Materials: Brass/Bronze, Silver Accents, Etched/Engraved Decoration

• Motif: Foliate Scrollwork, Crossed Swords Heraldry

• Dimensions (Approximate): 10 inches tall

• Verbatim Transcription (Key Symbol on Base): Oval Cartouche with Crossed Swords