Huge Beja Dagger with Silver Filigree

[G. Mansfield]

Battera, certainly the best example of these type daggers that I have seen. The work is most certainly influenced by Yemeni silver work and similar to Abyssinian pieces. As others have noted, the hilt looks to be a hardwood of a reddish color rather than the typical African blackwood and the formation of the hilt is atypical differentiated from the x-hit types often seen from the Sudan such as Kassala. With that being said, I opinion this piece to be early 20th Abyssinian region as my best guess. Attached are two x-hilt reverse hook daggers from my collection with some silver wire and studs for comparison. Not too old, approximately mid-20th century, the largest at 14.5 inches. Also, an Ethiopian gile (not mine) with similar silver work for brainstorming.

Best,
-Geoff