Mike's Oud Forums

very Old OUD - can someone give me some info on it, how old it is & possibly its value

Laura - 3-30-2007 at 07:57 AM

I know nothing about this, I thought it was a Bouzouki, but my friend said it is an Oud, it has been in my grandmothers family for a long time, she passed on and we know nothing about it. Any advise would be helpful.

There is sometype of Middle Eastern Writing on a plaque inside it

palestine48 - 3-30-2007 at 08:00 AM

Linda where do you live, aybe some professional luthiers can look at it. if u can take a picture of what is written inside that would be very helpful too.

Laura - 3-30-2007 at 08:08 AM

queens new york - I have a photo of the inside, would you be able to help me..I honestly do not know anything about this...Help....(lol)

tsugumi - 3-30-2007 at 08:14 AM

It's on eBay now!

http://cgi.ebay.com/VERY-OLD-OUD-VINTAGE_W0QQitemZ270105093636QQcat...

adamgood - 3-30-2007 at 08:17 AM

wow it looks really cool, Laura is there a chance you could post a photo that shows more of the instrument? for the curious people here? I'm curious to see the neck and pegs of the instrument.

the body looks to be really narrow

if you can that would be fun.

Since you are in Queens I would recommend taking it to Haig Manoukian who lives in Manhattan. He's a great repair guy and can maybe tell you more about it.

if you want his contact info, send me a private message.

adam

tsugumi - 3-30-2007 at 08:19 AM

back

Laura - 3-30-2007 at 08:21 AM

well, what can u tell me about it?

tsugumi - 3-30-2007 at 08:29 AM

Hello Laura,

Do you know the dimension of the oud?

tsugumi - 3-30-2007 at 08:33 AM

Can I see the picture of neck and peg box?

Laura - 3-30-2007 at 08:35 AM

31" LONG (FROM TIP OF HANDLE DOWN TO END OF OUD. 10 WIDE AT WIDEST POINT ACROSS FRONT.

BACK IS 36" IN LENGTH (FROM TOP OF HANDLE DOWN TO END OF OUD)

19" ACROSS BACK WIDEST PART

ALAMI - 3-30-2007 at 08:39 AM

Hi Laura,
So far I can tell you it is made in Dmascus - Syria
Address seems to be Kamar ????

the good news: It is a handwriting and what is written suggests could be Georgy Hanna Nahat who was one of the greatest luthiers ever.
Another photo from different angle would be helpful

The bad news is that it is not his original label but without any attempt to fake it (which is good), it is a simple (and not very good) handwring that could have been done by someone during an old repair.
And the inlays in the face look less well finished and bigger than Nahats. And the rosette does not look like a Nahat one
The body is narrower than usual, maybe a women model.

Other guys here on the forums are the real experts.

For now just take from me that it is a syrian oud

Laura - 3-30-2007 at 09:07 AM

Hi, I just sent you numerous photo's of the inside, hopefully this will help

ALAMI - 3-30-2007 at 10:28 AM

Hi Laura,
I am postings the pics you sent along with an original Georgy Hanna Nahat Label.
There are members on these forums with extensive knowledge in old ouds and specially those made by Nahat Family.
What I wrote in the previous mail and what I will write now is not in anyway a reliable Expertise.
The label Translation:

Made By Jerjy Hanna Nahat (jerjy is the arabic form of George)
Damascus - Kamarieh
Warehouse of Abdallah Al Sabbagh
(Then a Line I couldn't read - maybe Kabbou which means Bsament)
Serie B (written in French)
Number 20
Then a Cross similar to the french La Lorraine Cross


The hand writing is very similar to the original label, it looks the same in the the writing of the JR in JRJY and the NH in Nahat
We know (according to DrOud site) that Jerjy was making ouds until 1950, we also know that La Lorraine Cross was used as an emblem by the french resistance and General De Gaulle Army who won a battle against Petain Army (pro German French) and occupied Syria in 43 or 44 (not sure).
Is it an oud made for someone of La France Libre Army ?
Or (the romantic theory) commissioned to be a gift for a woman?
Or I am totally wrong and this cross means something else.
Another Interesting remark: Number 20, is it one of the first ouds made by Jerjy when he was very young and he hadn't yet his own label? and what is serie B?

Laura now I am like you waiting for answers from the real experts.

ALAMI - 3-30-2007 at 10:31 AM

Jerjy Hanna Nahat original label from
http://www.droud.com

mavrothis - 3-30-2007 at 11:34 AM

Hi Laura,

I live in Astoria and would love to look at this oud. Send me an email if you'd like to arrange that.

Thanks,

mavrothis

Laura - 3-30-2007 at 12:27 PM

photo's sent

jdowning - 3-31-2007 at 02:21 PM

Hello Laura - would it be possible to post a detailed close up image of one of the four decorative square inlaid "tiles" surrounding the rose of the instrument?
Thanks

OUD Tiles

Laura - 3-31-2007 at 03:16 PM

Here is the photo of the Tiles u requested. This Oud has been Authenticated as an Original Genuine Nahat Oud - Rose in Center - It has all of the Nahat Decoratives/Elements/Features/Style - as per Dr. Oud it is "Authentic". It is a George Hannah Nahat.

TILE

Laura - 3-31-2007 at 03:18 PM

here is a close-up of the Tile u requested

Photo of the Neck of the Nahat Oud

Laura - 3-31-2007 at 03:21 PM

photo of the neck

Photo of Oud's Pegs

Laura - 3-31-2007 at 03:23 PM

Pegs...

Oud Back Design

Laura - 3-31-2007 at 03:25 PM

Back Design....

Laura - 3-31-2007 at 03:28 PM

I have just posted Photo's of the Tiles, the Pegs, Back, Neck & Rose Design

Nahat

spyrosc - 3-31-2007 at 09:03 PM

The label inside looks authentic (and of a certain period), the size, shape, markings and decorations could be a Nahat, the pickguard I've never seen one like it on a Nahat, especially not on Gorgy Nahat, and I'm having a hard time with the rosette. It is neither the composite type (wood and bone/ivory) with the Nahat circle, or the elaborate ones (of which George had used also). I'm also having a hard time making out the "Gorgy Nahat" name on the rosette.

I'll research it some more.

Spyros C.

Laura - 4-1-2007 at 06:20 AM

Here is what the Label translates to:

The label Translation:

Made By Jerjy Hanna Nahat (jerjy is the arabic form of George)
Damascus - Kamarieh
Warehouse of Abdallah Al Sabbagh
(Then a Line I couldn't read - maybe Kabbou which means Bsament)
Serie B (written in French)
Number 20
Then a Cross similar to the french La Lorraine Cross


The hand writing is very similar to the original label, it looks the same in the the writing of the JR in JRJY and the NH in Nahat
We know (according to DrOud site) that Jerjy was making ouds until 1950, we also know that La Lorraine Cross was used as an emblem by the french resistance and General De Gaulle Army who won a battle against Petain Army (pro German French) and occupied Syria in 43 or 44 (not sure).
Is it an oud made for someone of La France Libre Army ?
Or (the romantic theory) commissioned to be a gift for a woman?
Or I am totally wrong and this cross means something else.
Another Interesting remark: Number 20, is it one of the first ouds made by Jerjy when he was very young and he hadn't yet his own label? and what is serie B?

According to the translatation above, possibly a gift for a Woman, who was a Nurse in the Army.

Dr. Oud confirmed that the Rosette was in fact, the Nahat Rosette, maybe you should speak with him.