Kaskara in Silver Dress: an essay for comment and discussion by Ed Hunley

David R · 19th July 2018, 09:42 PM

Thank you for these posts. Very interesting and informative.

TVV · 19th July 2018, 10:52 PM

Ed, thank you very much for this essay. It is on a very interesting topic that nobody has tackled before, and I learned a lot from reading it. The essay is very well written as well.

I have a couple of questions: do you know what the symbolism behind the different motives embossed on silver hilts may be (assuming there is any)? Did you consider including the double disc pommel kaskaras in the essay?

Regards,
Teodor

Edster · 20th July 2018, 12:35 AM

Teodor,

Thanks for your compliments. I did considerable on-line research on any symbolism exhibited. No real luck for the covers. Of course Islamic/Sudanese cultures use a lot astrological images as symbols including images on sword blades. Its fantastic to be out at night in remote Sudan and look up at the sky. No light pollution or humidity and the heavens are alive with stars and shooting stars. That vision is bound to make an impression on the individual, society and culture. But still I found nothing that articulated that. I was hoping that members would be able to add from their research and knowledge.

Double pommels are interesting and I think mostly from Ethiopia. But I didn't include them. By the "pommels" section I was getting drained. I and others would appreciate it if you would add discussion and images them to this thread.

Best,
Ed

TVV · 20th July 2018, 01:00 AM

Ed, rather than repeat the research of others, here is a link to a thread that was created by Iain for the discussion of double disc pommels:

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18691

Teodor

Edster · 20th July 2018, 02:32 AM

Good addition to the thread. Thanks.

Kubur · 20th July 2018, 08:13 AM

Dear Ed,

Your essay is interesting, but I can see a serious problem:
- where are your references, books, articles?

Regards,
Kubur

Edster · 20th July 2018, 01:47 PM

Dear Kubur,

My main reference was on-site research in the Suq al Hadad in Kassala, Sudan in March 1984, associated field notes and written up in my Social Economics of Small Craft Production, the Sword and Knife Makers of Kassaka, Eastern Sudan. (Available from EAA's reference section) I also used G. Reed's 1987 “Kaskara from Northern Darfur, Sudan” in The Journal of The Arms & Armour Society and Lee Jones' “Kaskara of Sudanic Africa”. I inspected and photographed the as-Shinqiti Collection in-situ at the Univ.of Khartoum where I taught a semester in 1984-85. I also used photographs from a couple of my own kaskaras. Most of the other photo references were identified from a Google image search on “Kaskara Silver Grips”. Most of the good stuff was from our own Vikingsword threads and photos. Other photos were from various web sites I incorporated under ”fair use” and did not reference other than their URL address as a live link. I won't mention all the other references, including Sudan Notes and Records articles and the Jay Spauldin works of the Funj Kingdom I reviewed but didn't find anything relevant. I even delved into siting references into the al-Kaid comet or star with a tail; nothing to tie a passage in late Funj times.

If I missed any important or relevent reference, please let me know. Anything to expand our knowledge will be helpful.

Regards,
Ed

19th July 2018, 09:42 PM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Thank you for these posts. Very interesting and informative.

19th July 2018, 10:52 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	Ed, thank you very much for this essay. It is on a very interesting topic that nobody has tackled before, and I learned a lot from reading it. The essay is very well written as well. I have a couple of questions: do you know what the symbolism behind the different motives embossed on silver hilts may be (assuming there is any)? Did you consider including the double disc pommel kaskaras in the essay? Regards, Teodor

20th July 2018, 12:35 AM	#3
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 415	Teodor, Thanks for your compliments. I did considerable on-line research on any symbolism exhibited. No real luck for the covers. Of course Islamic/Sudanese cultures use a lot astrological images as symbols including images on sword blades. Its fantastic to be out at night in remote Sudan and look up at the sky. No light pollution or humidity and the heavens are alive with stars and shooting stars. That vision is bound to make an impression on the individual, society and culture. But still I found nothing that articulated that. I was hoping that members would be able to add from their research and knowledge. Double pommels are interesting and I think mostly from Ethiopia. But I didn't include them. By the "pommels" section I was getting drained. I and others would appreciate it if you would add discussion and images them to this thread. Best, Ed

20th July 2018, 01:00 AM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	Ed, rather than repeat the research of others, here is a link to a thread that was created by Iain for the discussion of double disc pommels: http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18691 Teodor

20th July 2018, 02:32 AM	#5
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 415	Good addition to the thread. Thanks.

20th July 2018, 08:13 AM	#6
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Dear Ed, Your essay is interesting, but I can see a serious problem: - where are your references, books, articles? Regards, Kubur

20th July 2018, 01:47 PM	#7
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 415	Dear Kubur, My main reference was on-site research in the Suq al Hadad in Kassala, Sudan in March 1984, associated field notes and written up in my Social Economics of Small Craft Production, the Sword and Knife Makers of Kassaka, Eastern Sudan. (Available from EAA's reference section) I also used G. Reed's 1987 “Kaskara from Northern Darfur, Sudan” in The Journal of The Arms & Armour Society and Lee Jones' “Kaskara of Sudanic Africa”. I inspected and photographed the as-Shinqiti Collection in-situ at the Univ.of Khartoum where I taught a semester in 1984-85. I also used photographs from a couple of my own kaskaras. Most of the other photo references were identified from a Google image search on “Kaskara Silver Grips”. Most of the good stuff was from our own Vikingsword threads and photos. Other photos were from various web sites I incorporated under ”fair use” and did not reference other than their URL address as a live link. I won't mention all the other references, including Sudan Notes and Records articles and the Jay Spauldin works of the Funj Kingdom I reviewed but didn't find anything relevant. I even delved into siting references into the al-Kaid comet or star with a tail; nothing to tie a passage in late Funj times. If I missed any important or relevent reference, please let me know. Anything to expand our knowledge will be helpful. Regards, Ed