Meursault
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Nahat or Not?
The oud in the attached photos, which I bought for 3k, was represented to me as a 1931 Toufiq Nahat. Any comments or opinions as to its authenticity
would be appreciated.
It's a great-sounding old oud. I'm just trying to get a handle on how genuine it is.
Thanks for all replies.
Keith
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Meursault
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more photos
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Meursault
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more photos
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Meursault
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more photos
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Meursault
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more photos
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spyrosc
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Nahat
The piece of the original label that's still left is indeed a picture of Teoufiq and the faint date indicates 1931.
The oud has definitely been "worked on". The pickguard may not be the original, although it is also Syrian. The rose in the middle is missing the
traditional Nahat "signature".
There's more...
There appears to be another label stuck on the upper left of the remaining original. Can we see that one as well please ?
Also dimensions ?
Thanks
Spyros C.
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damascene_oud
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It is Taoufic Nahat's Picture, but i can figure out on the upper left corner of Nahat picture's sticker, another sticker says : Jawadat.
That must be Jawdat Halabi, who passed away in the 90's, and was the last of the old oud master makers in Damascus. However Halabi's works were
recognised as being of the Nahat's school of oud making. He stoped buliding oud's long bafore passing away, but he built an outstanding Qanoon just
prior to his death, and that was the last thing he made. I have personally seen him bulding the instrument in his workshop. Halabi's work concentrated
primarily on repair works of fine ouds made by reputable master makers like Nahat, Pedrosian, Abrass, Hayeck...others and his works as well.
So i tend to think that this Nahat oud had passed under Halabi's skillful hands in a kind of repair or restoration. However, that doesn't at all
undermine the value of the instrument.
Congratulations Meursault, or as we say in Damascene "Mabrook" 
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Meursault
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Here's a photo of the repair label
Anybody have a translation? I know as much about Arabic as I do particle physics - zilch.
Thanks for all the help.
Keith
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ALAMI
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Hi Keith, the repair label says:
"Repaired 10th of April 986 " (handwritten)
"Bayt Al Musiqa" = House of Music
Joudieh Brothers Music Teaching
Manufacture and repair of "stringed" and percussion musical instruments.
Damascus -- Near Al Ansari school
(I am not sure of the street name, probably damascene_oud will know better)
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spyrosc
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Label
Good guess about the "Gawad..." showing on the label on the previous picture, but unfortunately it turned out wrong. I saw it too, but wasn't
venturing a guess because it was partly hidden. As it turns out it says "Gawadiya Brothers" or "Goudiya Brothers".
It would have been nice if Gawdat Halabi had worked on it, then you would have had an even more valuable piece of history.
The shape, the purfling, the fingerboard, all say "Nahat", but as we all recognize, there's been repairs.
It would be very interesting to see a picture from the side (side view). I'm looking possibly for the tail curving inward, as many Nahats of the mid
20s and 30s had.
Spyros C.
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damascene_oud
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OoOppss...i missed that one.
It certainly isn't Jawdat Halabi's label..sorry for that
well that workshop is Tabbaleh-Jaramanah area, but i'm not if it is still there.
However, this oud is definitely Nahat's, no question about that, but honestly can't figure out which portions had been restored or repaired by that
workshop.
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