Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Unusual Arab Islamic African sword with inscription

Iain · 8th December 2010, 04:14 PM

Ali Dinar was a grandson of the last Keyra Fur sultan. The dynasty that ruled Dar Fur for quite a while (centuries as I recall). Can't find much else quickly online and most of my references are for further west in Sahel.

I think this sword is certainly of a level where it could have been owned by the sultan. The silver work is not out of line for Dar Fur being also seen on some of the more elaborate kaskara. I did turn up an old auction catalog reference for a kaskara owned by Dinar. P. Missillier and H. Ricketts 1988, no. 257 if that helps.

I still feel this piece is very reliant on Tebu form but the pommel has me stumped.

8th December 2010, 04:14 PM	#12
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Ali Dinar was a grandson of the last Keyra Fur sultan. The dynasty that ruled Dar Fur for quite a while (centuries as I recall). Can't find much else quickly online and most of my references are for further west in Sahel. I think this sword is certainly of a level where it could have been owned by the sultan. The silver work is not out of line for Dar Fur being also seen on some of the more elaborate kaskara. I did turn up an old auction catalog reference for a kaskara owned by Dinar. P. Missillier and H. Ricketts 1988, no. 257 if that helps. I still feel this piece is very reliant on Tebu form but the pommel has me stumped.