Terrs. The Omani Battle Shield. A Buckler.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams All...I post an interesting collage of weapons some of which are floated into the region from the Zanzibar Hub and some like the shield near the top already adopted by Oman.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all...I wondered if the brass cross format of the two rivet heads in the front of the Terrs shield holding the back hand strap in place were related to the Ethiopian Cross. May that indicate that the Terrs was manufactured in Ethiopia rather than being made in Zanzibar...or that Ethiopian artesans made them that way in Zanzibar or both ?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams all...I wondered if the brass cross format of the two rivet heads in the front of the Terrs shield holding the back hand strap in place were related to the Ethiopian Cross. May that indicate that the Terrs was manufactured in Ethiopia rather than being made in Zanzibar...or that Ethiopian artesans made it that way in Zanzibar or both ?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaam Ibrahiim,

For me it's a star not a cross.
The star is a common symbol in Islamic lands.
One question, where did you find your previous document, the drawing?
Thanks

Kubur

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Salaam Ibrahiim,

For me it's a star not a cross.
The star is a common symbol in Islamic lands.
One question, where did you find your previous document, the drawing?
Thanks

Kubur

Salaams Kubur,
The drawing is not initially attributed except that it appears as an image after searching for Omani Shield. In fact it is attributed to omanisilver.com only as a written reference not as a picture. From that reference it indicates it is from The commander of a French Frigate Capt Guillaine...in the mid 19th C. from his writing. see www.omanisilver.com

Star or cross... the Ethiopian version is called the Ethiopian cross though I agree it's a star shaped cross..Perhaps the shape mirrors the star cluster called the Southern Cross? Moreover my question is attached suggesting the link to The Ethiopian Cross..and perhaps to where it was manufactured.

In fact the question is virtually self answering as I note from Omani Silver.com Quote" Joseph Osgood in 1850 stated that many of these shields were turned at Zanzibar for Northern markets". Unquote....It can be seen that the shields are subjected to a turning or lathe effect cutting the essential grooves and ridges etc.I think therefor that more than one location was into making these shields and no reason why Zanzibar was not involved.....however, my point concerns the brass rectangles...Be they Ethiopian Crosses or what?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Kubur,
The drawing is not initially attributed except that it appears as an image after searching for Omani Shield. In fact it is attributed to omanisilver.com only as a written reference not as a picture. From that reference it indicates it is from The commander of a French Frigate Capt Guillaine...in the mid 19th C. from his writing. see www.omanisilver.com

Star or cross... the Ethiopian version is called the Ethiopian cross though I agree it's a star shaped cross..Perhaps the shape mirrors the star cluster called the Southern Cross? Moreover my question is attached suggesting the link to The Ethiopian Cross..and perhaps to where it was manufactured.

In fact the question is virtually self answering as I note from Omani Silver.com Quote" Joseph Osgood in 1850 stated that many of these shields were turned at Zanzibar for Northern markets". Unquote....It can be seen that the shields are subjected to a turning or lathe effect cutting the essential grooves and ridges etc.I think therefor that more than one location was into making these shields and no reason why Zanzibar was not involved.....however, my point concerns the brass rectangles...Be they Ethiopian Crosses or what?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

The Southern Cross is only visible in the Southern Hemisphere. Ethiopia is in the Northern Hemisphere.

[Andreas]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Kubur,
The drawing is not initially attributed except that it appears as an image after searching for Omani Shield. In fact it is attributed to omanisilver.com only as a written reference not as a picture. From that reference it indicates it is from The commander of a French Frigate Capt Guillaine...in the mid 19th C. from his writing. see www.omanisilver.com

The plate is from Voyage à la còte orientale d'Afrique : exécuté pendant les années 1846, 1847 et 1848 par le brick le Ducouëdic, sous le commandement de M. Guillain : album.
Here’s another interesting plate from this publication, with the caption Soldats irreguliers du Sultan. Arabes d’Oman de la tribu des Beni-m’-hhaoen.
Andreas

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Andreas

The plate is from Voyage à la còte orientale d'Afrique : exécuté pendant les années 1846, 1847 et 1848 par le brick le Ducouëdic, sous le commandement de M. Guillain : album.
Here’s another interesting plate from this publication, with the caption Soldats irreguliers du Sultan. Arabes d’Oman de la tribu des Beni-m’-hhaoen.
Andreas

Salaams Andreas, Thank you for posting these excellent pictures which I have often alluded to before but without knowing the original book from which they came...I believe these are of the first form of photography.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Andreas, Thank you for posting these excellent pictures which I have often alluded to before but without knowing the original book from which they came...I believe these are of the first form of photography.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

The type of picture was a daggeurotype...These began appearing in 1840 and present unique evidence to the ethnographic research student. The process can be viewed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daguerreotype A short write up can be viewed at http://www.wayfarersbookshop.com/sho...p?txtBOOK=1443 against a backdrop of a picture Zanzibar harbour..

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams all...I wondered if the brass cross format of the two rivet heads in the front of the Terrs shield holding the back hand strap in place were related to the Ethiopian Cross. May that indicate that the Terrs was manufactured in Ethiopia rather than being made in Zanzibar...or that Ethiopian artesans made them that way in Zanzibar or both ?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Since the cross is generally accepted as a Christian symbol, is it likely to be accepted as a decoration in the Muslim world?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Since the cross is generally accepted as a Christian symbol, is it likely to be accepted as a decoration in the Muslim world?

Salaams Khanjar 1, In the case of crosses they are common since the cross is a symbol of light often seen in rugs and textiles particularly on Yurt door carpets and up the silk road work.

Southern Cross. I perhaps need to just correct your statement slightly...From the N. Hemisphere, For readers in the USA you have to be in Hawaii, or south Florida or south Texas – about 26 degrees N. latitude or further south – to see the Southern Cross.

In Africa that appears to put Ethiopia in range at 8 degrees N. Also the Tuaregs; Among Tuaregs, the four most visible stars of Crux are considered iggaren, i.e. four Maerua crassifolia trees. I refer to star formations also often seen on Berber\North African jewellery work...and my original quest for the reason for the shape of the brass rivet covers/rectangles...(if that is understood?) on the Terrs face.

The shapes seem to be Ethiopian in design...? Interestingly they could also be construed as a geometric figure 5 configuration as in the Talismanic format..but I leave that pencilled in the margin.

Showing;

1. The dominant cross on Katchli or Katchlu door rugs from the Yurt tent...and there are vast numbers of rugs all up the silk road with smaller crosses indicating candle light/ welcoming signs.

2. The Southern Cross.

3. The rectanguilar brass shape on the Terrs.. Sold item from Ashok Arts.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.