LOOK WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN!

[Lah Ca]

That's crying out for some really good Middle Eastern music!

A true treasure.

James.

Well we could also do some Rimsky Korsakov:

https://youtu.be/zY4w4_W30aQ

[Roaring20s]

My friend said that the text is difficult to interpret because the letters are in a very decorative, ornate, perhaps archaic, form.

She is 100% certain that it is in Arabic and not Farsi or Turkish, both of which use/used Arabic script.

She is pretty certain that it reads: Laa ghalib illa Allah (No victorious/no victor but Allah which is a parallel to No God but Allah). She says that the expression seems to be associated with Andalusia as well as with a North African dynasty called al-Muwahhidoon (Almohad caliphate).

Good timing with the translation!
Looks good ...

Screen Shot 2022-09-04 at 3.58.01 PM.png (151.45 KiB) Viewed 552 times

[Lah Ca]

My friend said that the text is difficult to interpret because the letters are in a very decorative, ornate, perhaps archaic, form.

She is 100% certain that it is in Arabic and not Farsi or Turkish, both of which use/used Arabic script.

She is pretty certain that it reads: Laa ghalib illa Allah (No victorious/no victor but Allah which is a parallel to No God but Allah). She says that the expression seems to be associated with Andalusia as well as with a North African dynasty called al-Muwahhidoon (Almohad caliphate).

Good timing with the translation!
Looks good ...
Screen Shot 2022-09-04 at 11.49.42 AM.png
Screen Shot 2022-09-04 at 3.58.01 PM.png

Confirmation has been received from a North Africa/Andalusian specialist who says it is a rendition of the Nasrid motto from the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

So how about some Tarrega?

https://youtu.be/AAF42Dt-R0k

[Roaring20s]

That works for me ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOsRMECWKAE

[tictalk]

Thanks for the kind words and information on our new addition, we are very happy to be its new caretaker, to answer a few of your questions and comments. regarding the provenance of the machine, I was told by its former owner that he acquired it from a wealthy family that had owned it for several generations having ties to Spain and Algeria, after he purchased it, he sent it to the Alhambra for some minor marquetry repairs. We were fortunate to be able to visit the Alhambra 7 years ago it is quite an amazing place, The Alhambra is a centuries old walled Fortress and Palace near Granada Spain, which is where Victor shipped it to originally to have the marquetry applied. The writing is Arabic which would confirm Lah Ca's information on it being a rendition of the Nasrid motto from the Alhambra, as far as known examples, from the information I have there is the one we have, one other confirmed survivor and perhaps a third survivor somewhere?

[Lah Ca]

Thanks for the kind words and information on our new addition, we are very happy to be its new caretaker, to answer a few of your questions and comments. regarding the provenance of the machine, I was told by its former owner that he acquired it from a wealthy family that had owned it for several generations having ties to Spain and Algeria, after he purchased it, he sent it to the Alhambra for some minor marquetry repairs. We were fortunate to be able to visit the Alhambra 7 years ago it is quite an amazing place, The Alhambra is a centuries old walled Fortress and Palace near Granada Spain, which is where Victor shipped it to originally to have the marquetry applied. The writing is Arabic which would confirm Lah Ca's information on it being a rendition of the Nasrid motto from the Alhambra, as far as known examples, from the information I have there is the one we have, one other confirmed survivor and perhaps a third survivor somewhere?

Very interesting. Thanks for the info. Thank you also for sharing such an unusual machine.

I still wonder who had the sense of humour, the workman doing the marquetry or the person commissioning the work.

[Jerry B.]

Incredible purchase...simply incredible!

Jerry B.

[ticticdok]

Beautiful machine! I’ll have to say that’s one of the prettiest I’ve seen. Great addition to your collection! Enjoy!

[Inigo]

Thanks for all that interesting info!

[edisonplayer]

FANCY!edisonplayer.