Im with you David...how the heck did I miss this one!!!!!?????
That is phenomenal Rick, you are one amazing connoisseur (I love trying to spell that word
!!!
Incidentally, David, the source on those diamond pattern motif is the one I noted published by Graham Reed in 1987. Ironically, it seems that our own Ed Hunley preempted Mr. Reeds visit to Kassala by three years! as shown in his outstanding treatise (1984)which appears on our site.
Actually that triangular blade form in a shorter sword version as seen here, in my experience has been attributed to Dongola regions in upper Sudan. As always, the inscription is key of course, and these sumptuous mounts are atypical to the hilts I have usually seen on these blades.
When the Anglo-Egyptian government took over in the Sudan in 1899, and Ali Dinar was recognized as the sultan of Darfur, the dar was very much left to its own affairs, but was expected to pay a nominal annual tribute to that government.
The outstanding quality of this sword and the potentially revealing inscription on the blade may indicate this was some sort of diplomatic gift to the sultan during his reign and associated with relations as noted. The incongruent nature of the mounts do suggest some cross cultural custom work, and the Chadic possibilities are well placed. It should also be noted that the Teda which are a Toubou tribal group in N. Chad (as well as Niger and Nigeria) also were well situated in Libya. As mentioned earlier, considerable Senussi (which Ali Dinar was profoundly an adherent) presence was situated in Libya.
While unclear how these elements might account for this somewhat hybrid sword, they seemed worthy of note.
All best regards,
Jim
PS Charles, that kaskara you had several years ago in Baltimore and I suggested the blade was Italian, do you still have it? I believe that too was a Darfur sword, and while not with inscriptions, I think might be supportive of Italian origins the blades on many of these Darfur swords.