Huge Beja Dagger with Silver Filigree

Edster · 31st December 2019, 02:17 PM

Amazing piece!! Best I've ever seen. The silver work is superior. Not sure about Beja royalty, but could have been made for a high political leader with connections to the Beja like the Mirghani family who were also sufi leaders of the Khatmiyah order. Also, the Kassala political leadership could have made a political gift to an outsider, although the silver work would take too much time for a presentation to a visitor.

The profile of the grip is much flatter than the more recent double 'C" version. More like early 20th C. if not earlier. Remember the Italians were in Kassala during the Mahdiya, WW1 & WW2 with colonial ambitions.

The wood looks reddish color and different from the usual African Black Wood or Ebony traditionally/ virtually exclusively used for Beja knives made in Kassala. Not sure what that might mean. Maybe made in Eritrea with a different wood availability.

Well done,
Ed

drac2k · 31st December 2019, 03:40 PM

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

roanoa · 31st December 2019, 06:19 PM

Amazing. I have seen Beja/Hadendoa daggers with silver wire wrapping and rosettes, but never one like this!!! The wood looks reddish, but is hard to find a piece of ebony this size completely black. I have a HUGE dagger and the hilt has some reddish tones. I thought mine was the best.... I stand corrected!

Battara · 1st January 2020, 12:22 AM

Thank you folks for the comments and help so far. Possible Sufi connection? That would be sooooo cool and wonderful. I love the Sufis.

The type of filigree made me think of the Ethiopian region. Did not think of Sudan or Islamic. Very helpful.

Again zukran!

CharlesS · 1st January 2020, 01:01 AM

Nicest, most flamboyant, an example I have ever seen. Certainly a status piece, but I doubt we will ever learn the "level" of the status.

Terrific find! Congrats!

Kubur · 1st January 2020, 08:06 AM

This is a Red sea work, I don't think at Kassala.
Maybe from Yemeni Jewish diaspora
One of the best I have seen.

Battara · 1st January 2020, 08:28 PM

Thank you gents.

So Kubur could I say that this belonged to someone in the Eretrea region and the hilt made in Yemen?

31st December 2019, 06:19 PM	#3
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	Amazing. I have seen Beja/Hadendoa daggers with silver wire wrapping and rosettes, but never one like this!!! The wood looks reddish, but is hard to find a piece of ebony this size completely black. I have a HUGE dagger and the hilt has some reddish tones. I thought mine was the best.... I stand corrected! Attached Images

1st January 2020, 01:01 AM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Nicest, most flamboyant, an example I have ever seen. Certainly a status piece, but I doubt we will ever learn the "level" of the status. Terrific find! Congrats! Last edited by CharlesS; 1st January 2020 at 12:31 PM.

31st December 2019, 02:17 PM	#1
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 411	Amazing piece!! Best I've ever seen. The silver work is superior. Not sure about Beja royalty, but could have been made for a high political leader with connections to the Beja like the Mirghani family who were also sufi leaders of the Khatmiyah order. Also, the Kassala political leadership could have made a political gift to an outsider, although the silver work would take too much time for a presentation to a visitor. The profile of the grip is much flatter than the more recent double 'C" version. More like early 20th C. if not earlier. Remember the Italians were in Kassala during the Mahdiya, WW1 & WW2 with colonial ambitions. The wood looks reddish color and different from the usual African Black Wood or Ebony traditionally/ virtually exclusively used for Beja knives made in Kassala. Not sure what that might mean. Maybe made in Eritrea with a different wood availability. Well done, Ed

31st December 2019, 03:40 PM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,255	WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1st January 2020, 12:22 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Thank you folks for the comments and help so far. Possible Sufi connection? That would be sooooo cool and wonderful. I love the Sufis. The type of filigree made me think of the Ethiopian region. Did not think of Sudan or Islamic. Very helpful. Again zukran!

1st January 2020, 08:06 AM	#6
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	This is a Red sea work, I don't think at Kassala. Maybe from Yemeni Jewish diaspora One of the best I have seen.

1st January 2020, 08:28 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Thank you gents. So Kubur could I say that this belonged to someone in the Eretrea region and the hilt made in Yemen?