Getting back to these deeply stamped lions, while the quality and character of the mark seems to indicate a European stamp, I still cannot find anything among known European marks that corresponds to a lion in this stance.
Also the depth of the stamp is much like the cross and orb cases seen here, but the cross and orb was always in blade center not forte. Also the cross is atypical and not European. This brings me again to the idea that perhaps there were stamps used by artisans in Sudanese or other entrepots that brought in blades whether trade or other native makers.
The similarity and configuration of these three examples with stamped lions in the attachments....especially the center and bottom, both on kaskara. The Kassalawi makers it seems had stamps, which degenerated over time. Pm the one with the flower (?) it pretty well matches the other lion which is by itself.
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