Double disc pommel kaskara

Martin Lubojacky · 4th July 2014, 12:46 PM

Engraving from the book "Ethiopia Engraved" (Orig. Lefebvre Atlas, l. 44 and 45): "Early 19th-Century Weapons)

Iain · 4th July 2014, 03:54 PM

Hi Martin, thanks for the image, I've seen that engraving of the kaskara before but never the full page.

CharlesS · 4th July 2014, 07:11 PM

This engraving is fascinating in many regards, the kaskara certainly one of them.

I was also drawn to the sword hilts opposite each other at the bottom of the page. The one to the left looks faceted and appears rounded...a form very typical of Ottoman daggers. The one to the right looks more Arabic in origin than typically Ethiopian. Neither of these outside influences would be particularly shocking, but I am fascinated by the cross-cultural sharing of styles, as many of you know.

Jim McDougall · 4th July 2014, 10:02 PM

[QUOTE=CharlesS]This engraving is fascinating in many regards, the kaskara certainly one of them.

I was also drawn to the sword hilts opposite each other at the bottom of the page. The one to the left looks faceted and appears rounded...a form very typical of Ottoman daggers. The one to the right looks more Arabic in origin than typically Ethiopian. Neither of these outside influences would be particularly shocking, but I am fascinated by the cross-cultural sharing of styles, as many of you know.[/QUO

As always well observed Charles! and you are always astute at noticing these nuances of cross pollination of cultural influences. I have often wondered as well about the similarity of many Arabian dagger hilts to those of the Abyssinian shotels, and the importation of these swords into Arabia for use of the rhino horn in the hilts.

4th July 2014, 12:46 PM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 845	Engraving from the book "Ethiopia Engraved" (Orig. Lefebvre Atlas, l. 44 and 45): "Early 19th-Century Weapons) Attached Images

4th July 2014, 03:54 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Hi Martin, thanks for the image, I've seen that engraving of the kaskara before but never the full page.

4th July 2014, 07:11 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	This engraving is fascinating in many regards, the kaskara certainly one of them. I was also drawn to the sword hilts opposite each other at the bottom of the page. The one to the left looks faceted and appears rounded...a form very typical of Ottoman daggers. The one to the right looks more Arabic in origin than typically Ethiopian. Neither of these outside influences would be particularly shocking, but I am fascinated by the cross-cultural sharing of styles, as many of you know.

4th July 2014, 10:02 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,660	[QUOTE=CharlesS]This engraving is fascinating in many regards, the kaskara certainly one of them. I was also drawn to the sword hilts opposite each other at the bottom of the page. The one to the left looks faceted and appears rounded...a form very typical of Ottoman daggers. The one to the right looks more Arabic in origin than typically Ethiopian. Neither of these outside influences would be particularly shocking, but I am fascinated by the cross-cultural sharing of styles, as many of you know.[/QUO As always well observed Charles! and you are always astute at noticing these nuances of cross pollination of cultural influences. I have often wondered as well about the similarity of many Arabian dagger hilts to those of the Abyssinian shotels, and the importation of these swords into Arabia for use of the rhino horn in the hilts.