African curved sword for discussion/comment ?

Jim McDougall · 3rd January 2013, 11:24 PM

Hi Darren,
Which type of embellishments and filigree work are you referring to? I know there is a great deal of silvered openwork on Abyssinian shields, but have not seen same on these shotels.
The shotel you have shown seems to be one from latter 19th century most likely, and these deeply parabolic sickle type swords were traditionally favored by many of the Abyssinian tribes. Apparantly they continued to be used though the Italian occupation (ending with Battle of Adwa 1898) and as late as 1936-41 with the Italian-Abyssian war.

During the early 20th century these type blades were often produced by both Germany and Wilkinson of England in this traditional form, many of these supplied to forces of Haile Selassie I. More familiar in these times were the gurade, a stirrup hilted military type sabre, and shotels with military type sabre blades but the same rhino horn hilt. As far as I have known there was no diffusion of these Abyssinian swords into other regions, though reasonable similarities are seen in hilts of certain other African edged weapons and sickle type blades on Ngombe sabres (much heavier and shallower).
It does appear numbers of shotels were entered into Red Sea trade and into Arabia, as I understand primarily to obtain the rhino horn hilts, extremely desired in Arabia for thier janbiyya/ khanjhar daggers. Some of the more straight and shallow curved blades of these swords appear to have been rehilted in San'aa in the Yemen in some degree, but none were of the parabolic blade shotel form.

There is a great deal of debate on the use of these sickle blades, which were looked upon disdainfully by Sir Richard Burton as being entirely useless, but many sources insist these were used gainfully in combat by reaching cuts around the opponents shield. These double edged 'sickles' are believed to have the focus of thier cut to the point, with the impetus of thier slashing cut in the momentum of the dramatically curved blade.

Most attractive swords, and seem to be getting somewhat harder to find. Thier long use by Ethiopian warriors, even contemporary to the other forms described, suggest they were indeed deadly in the hands of these warriors.

All best regards,
Jim

Taffjones · 4th January 2013, 09:12 AM

Hi Jim,
I notice that the pommel caps of particularly the rhino hilted shotels have the Arab type filigree work which I know is also found on weapons of the Beja Hadendoa and the Jile type daggers and swords from surrounding countries.
Thanks
Darren

Iain · 4th January 2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taffjones

Hi Jim,
I notice that the pommel caps of particularly the rhino hilted shotels have the Arab type filigree work which I know is also found on weapons of the Beja Hadendoa and the Jile type daggers and swords from surrounding countries.
Thanks
Darren

I wouldn't classify this as an Arab style particularly. As Jim said, there is a long history of detailed metal work in Ethiopia including jewelry and church items like elaborate crosses. Here's a particularly fancy shotel and scabbard: http://oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=4693

Taffjones · 4th January 2013, 10:55 AM

Thanks Iain,
I now know that i have a tendency to oversimplify and generalize on these matters. Having read through some old forum postings I now realize that not all Silver granulation and filigree work originated in Arabia and that African countries have a strong tradition with silver/ metal work.
Thanks
Darren

Iain · 4th January 2013, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taffjones

Thanks Iain,
I now know that i have a tendency to oversimplify and generalize on these matters. Having read through some old forum postings I now realize that not all Silver granulation and filigree work originated in Arabia and that African countries have a strong tradition with silver/ metal work.
Thanks
Darren

Hi Darren, happy to help out. Ethiopia is an interesting case as a country with fairly well defined territorial borders and history for a very long period of time. It was also somewhat isolated due to cultural and religious factors. Seeing your sword is making me want to start collecting Ethiopian items as well!

Jim McDougall · 4th January 2013, 03:00 PM

Ethiopia and Eritrea are indeed interesting regions, and Ethiopia (then Abyssinia) entered the Mahdist campaigns alled with Great Britain and Ottoman Egypt from 1885-89. The kaskara of the Sudan in well known in Eritrea as well as in degree in Ethiopia, and Beja Hadendoa tribal groups were well situated already in these regions. The shotel however did not cross diffuse into Sudanese regions, and I am not aware of Hadendoa using them.
The 'gile' was the shorter and heavier weapon which was used by the Afar in Danakil regions of Ethiopia.

The filigree and openwork seen on some of these weapons more decorative seem likely to have been the work of artisans associated with the brisk import trade from the Red Sea including Arab regions, much of which was situated in Addis Adaba and Harar both in Ethiopia.

Iain · 8th January 2013, 05:55 PM

Just to add a bit of interesting historical detail, the British had actually fought the Ethiopians not that long before the Madhist period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...n_to_Abyssinia

There was also large battle between the Madhists and the Ethiopians
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gallabat

Not as well known as the actions involving the British but extremely important none the less.

3rd January 2013, 11:24 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Hi Darren, Which type of embellishments and filigree work are you referring to? I know there is a great deal of silvered openwork on Abyssinian shields, but have not seen same on these shotels. The shotel you have shown seems to be one from latter 19th century most likely, and these deeply parabolic sickle type swords were traditionally favored by many of the Abyssinian tribes. Apparantly they continued to be used though the Italian occupation (ending with Battle of Adwa 1898) and as late as 1936-41 with the Italian-Abyssian war. During the early 20th century these type blades were often produced by both Germany and Wilkinson of England in this traditional form, many of these supplied to forces of Haile Selassie I. More familiar in these times were the gurade, a stirrup hilted military type sabre, and shotels with military type sabre blades but the same rhino horn hilt. As far as I have known there was no diffusion of these Abyssinian swords into other regions, though reasonable similarities are seen in hilts of certain other African edged weapons and sickle type blades on Ngombe sabres (much heavier and shallower). It does appear numbers of shotels were entered into Red Sea trade and into Arabia, as I understand primarily to obtain the rhino horn hilts, extremely desired in Arabia for thier janbiyya/ khanjhar daggers. Some of the more straight and shallow curved blades of these swords appear to have been rehilted in San'aa in the Yemen in some degree, but none were of the parabolic blade shotel form. There is a great deal of debate on the use of these sickle blades, which were looked upon disdainfully by Sir Richard Burton as being entirely useless, but many sources insist these were used gainfully in combat by reaching cuts around the opponents shield. These double edged 'sickles' are believed to have the focus of thier cut to the point, with the impetus of thier slashing cut in the momentum of the dramatically curved blade. Most attractive swords, and seem to be getting somewhat harder to find. Thier long use by Ethiopian warriors, even contemporary to the other forms described, suggest they were indeed deadly in the hands of these warriors. All best regards, Jim

4th January 2013, 09:12 AM	#2
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Hi Jim, I notice that the pommel caps of particularly the rhino hilted shotels have the Arab type filigree work which I know is also found on weapons of the Beja Hadendoa and the Jile type daggers and swords from surrounding countries. Thanks Darren

4th January 2013, 10:55 AM	#4
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Thanks Iain, I now know that i have a tendency to oversimplify and generalize on these matters. Having read through some old forum postings I now realize that not all Silver granulation and filigree work originated in Arabia and that African countries have a strong tradition with silver/ metal work. Thanks Darren

4th January 2013, 03:00 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Ethiopia and Eritrea are indeed interesting regions, and Ethiopia (then Abyssinia) entered the Mahdist campaigns alled with Great Britain and Ottoman Egypt from 1885-89. The kaskara of the Sudan in well known in Eritrea as well as in degree in Ethiopia, and Beja Hadendoa tribal groups were well situated already in these regions. The shotel however did not cross diffuse into Sudanese regions, and I am not aware of Hadendoa using them. The 'gile' was the shorter and heavier weapon which was used by the Afar in Danakil regions of Ethiopia. The filigree and openwork seen on some of these weapons more decorative seem likely to have been the work of artisans associated with the brisk import trade from the Red Sea including Arab regions, much of which was situated in Addis Adaba and Harar both in Ethiopia.

8th January 2013, 05:55 PM	#7
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Just to add a bit of interesting historical detail, the British had actually fought the Ethiopians not that long before the Madhist period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...n_to_Abyssinia There was also large battle between the Madhists and the Ethiopians http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gallabat Not as well known as the actions involving the British but extremely important none the less.