Brass dagger and scabbard.

Local artisans in the Middle East and North Africa made decorative daggers like this one to sell as souvenirs to travelers and foreign visitors. They were produced during the mid-to-late twentieth century, often drawing loose inspiration from traditional regional sidearms such as the curved jambiya. Metalworkers crafted them by casting brass components, hammering thin sheet metal for the scabbards, and hand-etching traditional scrolling leaf and geometric patterns onto the surfaces.

Tourists and military personnel bought these ornate pieces to take home as exotic decorative objects and mementos of their travels abroad. People typically displayed them on shelves or hung them on walls in studies and living rooms rather than carrying them for daily use. Over time, as travel expanded and souvenir production increased, these decorative mementos found their way into thrift shops and estate sales around the world.