Unusual Shotel

Martin Lubojacky · 31st January 2011, 08:54 AM

Hi Roanoa,
One of the blades is at home - in Prague, I do not have picture and unfortunately I will be there in half a year. Nevertheless this is not shotel - but Ethiopian saif with straight, Wilkinson blade. There ere still traces of gilding in etched design. Another one, in this case shotel, I saw in Ethiopia cca 15 years ago.

At home I have also gorade(shabola) with etched real partrait of young man, some peaople said it was young Haile Sellassie from his Harrar times, when he was cca 15 (?) years old. When I am back in Prague, I will post it.

Tim Simmons · 31st January 2011, 09:40 PM

I am probably way off but take a long hard look at the helmet on the head pommel knob. I may well be French. The winged sphinx is seems a hang over from the French exploits in Egypt. Look at the side view, the crest is an eagle. The face on view ie the beak is more stylised but it does have a snake in its mouth. I think that is most intesting considering French action in Mexico.

Tim Simmons · 31st January 2011, 10:20 PM

You can google "eagle eating snake imagery" but not much for "falcon eating snake imagery"

Jim McDougall · 31st January 2011, 10:47 PM

Truly remarkable piece. I would say that the hunting hanger style grip represents distinct European style for earlier court oriented weapons, and the neo-classical figure on the pommel suggests French hilting. I would say this is probably a diplomatically intended presentation or gift to a figure in important standing in Abyssinia. This high end piece might have to do with dealings during the Anglo Egyptian condominium and post Fashoda incident (1898) territorial disputes in these regions between that and France. The blade to me seems German. It is tempting to align the fluer de lis style in the quillons to France also.

Tim Simmons · 31st January 2011, 10:56 PM

As roanoa has already pointed out that the handle is on the wrong way round. The shotel is used with the concave edge leading. Why could this be?

Jim McDougall · 31st January 2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

As roanoa has already pointed out that the handle is on the wrong way round. The shotel is used with the concave edge leading. Why could this be?

Maybe because if it was hilted in France, they werent cognizant of the error as the item was intended for presentation rather than actual use?

roanoa · 1st February 2011, 03:10 AM

Just for the fun of it, since I am not that much into mythology, that does not look like a Sphinx to me... A Chimera? Not that it makes much of a difference....

31st January 2011, 09:40 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,962	spelling I am probably way off but take a long hard look at the helmet on the head pommel knob. I may well be French. The winged sphinx is seems a hang over from the French exploits in Egypt. Look at the side view, the crest is an eagle. The face on view ie the beak is more stylised but it does have a snake in its mouth. I think that is most intesting considering French action in Mexico. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 31st January 2011 at 09:51 PM.

31st January 2011, 10:47 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,815	Truly remarkable piece. I would say that the hunting hanger style grip represents distinct European style for earlier court oriented weapons, and the neo-classical figure on the pommel suggests French hilting. I would say this is probably a diplomatically intended presentation or gift to a figure in important standing in Abyssinia. This high end piece might have to do with dealings during the Anglo Egyptian condominium and post Fashoda incident (1898) territorial disputes in these regions between that and France. The blade to me seems German. It is tempting to align the fluer de lis style in the quillons to France also. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 1st February 2011 at 09:18 PM. Reason: typo in wording

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31st January 2011, 08:54 AM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 860	Hi Roanoa, One of the blades is at home - in Prague, I do not have picture and unfortunately I will be there in half a year. Nevertheless this is not shotel - but Ethiopian saif with straight, Wilkinson blade. There ere still traces of gilding in etched design. Another one, in this case shotel, I saw in Ethiopia cca 15 years ago. At home I have also gorade(shabola) with etched real partrait of young man, some peaople said it was young Haile Sellassie from his Harrar times, when he was cca 15 (?) years old. When I am back in Prague, I will post it.

31st January 2011, 10:20 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,962	You can google "eagle eating snake imagery" but not much for "falcon eating snake imagery"

31st January 2011, 10:56 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,962	As roanoa has already pointed out that the handle is on the wrong way round. The shotel is used with the concave edge leading. Why could this be?

1st February 2011, 03:10 AM	#7
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 243	Just for the fun of it, since I am not that much into mythology, that does not look like a Sphinx to me... A Chimera? Not that it makes much of a difference....