Benin Daggers

[Iain]

I stumbled across some daggers from the kingdom of Benin today on http://www.penn.museum/collections/ and thought I'd start a thread on them. Several features of these caught my eye in comparison to arm daggers from the Sahel.

One has an almost Hausa style pommel, others 'skull crusher' pommels reminiscent of Tebu daggers and another a 'T' shaped pommel a bit like a telek.

I wonder which direction the influences ran or if it's all just coincidence. Any members have their own examples of these? All the ones I've seen seem exceptionally well made and I really like the style.

[colin henshaw]

Hi Iain

Interesting to note the similarity between the hilt on the fourth dagger down, and the dagger I had previously posted....

[Iain]

Hi Colin,

That struck me as well Colin, your dagger and a few others. Even more cermonial items like this Kapsiki dagger share some features (also note the identical decorative motifs compared to your dagger). http://people.ucalgary.ca/~ndavid/Homepage/Mandara%20Metals%20figs/Fig%2011.03%20Kapsiki%20brasses.jpg