Huge Beja Dagger with Silver Filigree

CharlesS · 1st January 2020, 01:01 AM

Nicest, most flamboyant, an example I have ever seen. Certainly a status piece, but I doubt we will ever learn the "level" of the status.

Terrific find! Congrats!

Kubur · 1st January 2020, 08:06 AM

This is a Red sea work, I don't think at Kassala.
Maybe from Yemeni Jewish diaspora
One of the best I have seen.

Battara · 1st January 2020, 08:28 PM

Thank you gents.

So Kubur could I say that this belonged to someone in the Eretrea region and the hilt made in Yemen?

Kubur · 1st January 2020, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Thank you gents.

So Kubur could I say that this belonged to someone in the Eretrea region and the hilt made in Yemen?

I won't tell you what to say...
I would say that the knife including hilt was made in Africa.
The filigree work or embellishment might be Yemeni jewish but as pointed out previously could be Arab Egyptian filigree or proper African filigree... in an area in between Halayeb to Suakin...

Martin Lubojacky · 2nd January 2020, 08:50 AM

Hi Battara, your dagger is exceptional.
The filigree could also come from Ethiopia/Abyssinia and Eritrea, (some of old silver pendants, e.g. old crosslets are bedecked similarly here, also you can see something similar on some old rings belonging to Rashaida people from Eritrea and Yemen, also on old silver hairpins - but it is, indeed, part of the wider region - as Kubur mentioned, where the cultural influences used to blend together). There is a group of pommels decorated slightly similarly and used mostly for handles of short heavy weapons which probably belonged to Oromo people from the Ethiopian "Wollo region" (before called Azebo Galla ?) - picture enclosed.
The blue/black coulour of the blade may be caused by conserving/restoring activities of the previous owner (use of the tannin solution, which can be used as effective rust inhibitor, it causes such colour).

Battara · 2nd January 2020, 06:14 PM

Kubur, I apparently misunderstood you. Thank you for the illumination.

Martin Lubojacky, this type of filigree looks identical to mine! Very precise id and thank you.

Again this is out of my area but I am up to researching and learning more folks. Many many thanks.

Kubur · 2nd January 2020, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Hi Battara, your dagger is exceptional.
The filigree could also come from Ethiopia/Abyssinia and Eritrea, (some of old silver pendants, e.g. old crosslets are bedecked similarly here,as Kubur mentioned, where the cultural influences used to blend together)..

Maybe from Falasha Ethiopian Jewish
and remember that Yemeni were in Gondar too
But for your Beja dagger i still believe that it might be a red Sea work rather than something from the mountains

Edster · 2nd January 2020, 08:53 PM

The knife type is iconic to the Beni-Amer (part of the Beja) split between E. Sudan & NW Eritrea. My guess is the client was the Italian government during their tenure in Eritrea between 1890 & 1945, and it was a political gift to a Diglal or head of the B-A during that period. The pristine nature of the silver work suggests a later age. It was likely made in Massawa, an old-time port on the Red Sea coast across from Yemen, by a immigrant Yemeni Jewish artisan.

The imperfection (dig) of the blade near the hilt concerns me. Likewise, but not to be picky, the blade is a little off-center going into the hilt.

Best regards,
Ed

1st January 2020, 01:01 AM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Nicest, most flamboyant, an example I have ever seen. Certainly a status piece, but I doubt we will ever learn the "level" of the status. Terrific find! Congrats! Last edited by CharlesS; 1st January 2020 at 12:31 PM.

2nd January 2020, 08:50 AM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Hi Battara, your dagger is exceptional. The filigree could also come from Ethiopia/Abyssinia and Eritrea, (some of old silver pendants, e.g. old crosslets are bedecked similarly here, also you can see something similar on some old rings belonging to Rashaida people from Eritrea and Yemen, also on old silver hairpins - but it is, indeed, part of the wider region - as Kubur mentioned, where the cultural influences used to blend together). There is a group of pommels decorated slightly similarly and used mostly for handles of short heavy weapons which probably belonged to Oromo people from the Ethiopian "Wollo region" (before called Azebo Galla ?) - picture enclosed. The blue/black coulour of the blade may be caused by conserving/restoring activities of the previous owner (use of the tannin solution, which can be used as effective rust inhibitor, it causes such colour). Attached Images

1st January 2020, 08:06 AM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	This is a Red sea work, I don't think at Kassala. Maybe from Yemeni Jewish diaspora One of the best I have seen.

1st January 2020, 08:28 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Thank you gents. So Kubur could I say that this belonged to someone in the Eretrea region and the hilt made in Yemen?

2nd January 2020, 06:14 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Kubur, I apparently misunderstood you. Thank you for the illumination. Martin Lubojacky, this type of filigree looks identical to mine! Very precise id and thank you. Again this is out of my area but I am up to researching and learning more folks. Many many thanks.

2nd January 2020, 08:53 PM	#8
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 415	The knife type is iconic to the Beni-Amer (part of the Beja) split between E. Sudan & NW Eritrea. My guess is the client was the Italian government during their tenure in Eritrea between 1890 & 1945, and it was a political gift to a Diglal or head of the B-A during that period. The pristine nature of the silver work suggests a later age. It was likely made in Massawa, an old-time port on the Red Sea coast across from Yemen, by a immigrant Yemeni Jewish artisan. The imperfection (dig) of the blade near the hilt concerns me. Likewise, but not to be picky, the blade is a little off-center going into the hilt. Best regards, Ed