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12th March 2009, 05:43 AM
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#3 | |
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Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,281
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Quote:
Definitely some smooth music!  It is interesting that the Lion of Judah was the regal emblem for the rulers of Ethiopia, and officially thier title. The contractors of Solingen and Wilkinson in England typically placed this symbol on the blades specifically for this market of course, from about end of 19th century, well into 20th (1930's). The Star of David is also key to Ethiopian symbolism with relation to Solomons seal, and is represented in the official order by that name in the shape of the six point star (initiated 1874). It has always been interesting that Wilkinson already had been using this star surrounding its proof plugs and as a blade mark since about the 1850's, so was already well established on thier swords before the contracts to Abyssinia in the latter 19th century. It would seem that this blade had some use in Ethiopia before ending up in the Arab regions as someone went to great lengths to inscribe that star, well illustrating the imbued significance of these symbols on trade blades. All best regards, Jim |
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