ETHIOPIAN, ANYONE?

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by roanoa

The first word on the blade is MENELIK (Emperor of Ethiopia before Haile Selassie) and you have it upside down. Ethiopian sentences (in this case it's just a word) end with 4 dots as in the second inscription which is SAINT GEORGE (protector of Ethiopia). The writing on the ricasso is a bit of a puzzle because it says NIKOLA SUPPLIER TO THE EMPEROR and I have no idea of who this NIKOLA was. Maybe one of the many Armenian traders that supplied European goods to Ethiopia. The GG has generated a flurry of interpretations. Someone has suggested GRENAL of GLASGOW (doubt it...) or GEBRUDER GRAH (doubt it...). Jeff Demetrick and I had a discussion about this and we agree that in all likelyhood is GESETZLICH GESCHUETZT (ofter referred to as GES GESH) which I believe means REGISTERD MARK. I actually documented a sword that under the Lion of Judah has the words GES GESH. Jeff also identified the thermometer, but I have to dig out that info. Jeff: help!!

I gues this would have to be Menelik the second?

Does this help date the sword to the period of the early 1900s? Or could it be later and just refer to Menelik?

Did these guades often have blades like this with the words and floral designs?

What can you tell me about the sword?

[roanoa]

It's of course Menelik II. Menelik I, according to tradition, was the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. He fled Israel (with the Ark of the Covenant), followed the Nile to Abyssinia and founded the Solomonic Dinasty.
Your sword, made by Hoeller in Germany - according to Jeff - is often referred to as "officer" model. I have some reservation about that definition. Most likely it was purchased by some Ras and given to his entourage. It was certainly carried by men of status. I have seen quite a few of these (relatively speaking) and found out the blades, identical in scritps and decorations, came in at least three different curvatures. I'll post the pictures of the 3 ASAP. In the meantime, here is a picture of an important leader wearing one and the "page" that I produced of one of mine.

[roanoa]

Hi Bill. Me again. I snapped one quick picture just to show you the different curvatures. As I said, the blades are otherwise identical. I wonder if there was a straight blade as well... The hilt was plated. Grip was wood with a black plastic covering held in place by two strands of twisted copper wire.

[Bill M]

WOW! Beautiful swords!

I hate to say that I once turned down an exquisite shotel. Ivory and gold. Still regret it, but I just did not have the money at that time! Gone now.

Well, the past does not count so much as now. What do you think of this shield? I bought it some time ago and forgot what country it came from, but it looks so much like Nagawarriors' shield that I thought I'd dig it up and post it.

[roanoa]

Bill, I have made a couple of bad mistakes myself... But the shotel ivory/gold sounds like a biggie. Any ideas of where it ended up? Any pictures? Now, the shield: 100% Abyssinian. Great shape. Love it.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by roanoa

Bill, I have made a couple of bad mistakes myself... But the shotel ivory/gold sounds like a biggie. Any ideas of where it ended up? Any pictures? Now, the shield: 100% Abyssinian. Great shape. Love it.

Don't know where the shotel ended up but it is gone. $1200 I think was the asking price.

Thanks for the info on the shield.

I also really like Ethiopian art, prayer scrolls and jewelry. It has a vitality that most Christian art lost in the Byzantine.

Will post a modern piece about Menelik I. Kind of fun, about Queen of Sheba and Soloman. I think that it is on goat skin.

I realize that this is a weapons forum, but I think it is important to know about the culture, art, religion, political structure, history. All these give a depth of underestanding that really enriches the weapon collecting.