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Old 25th July 2024, 09:00 PM   #1
Martin Lubojacky
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Default Ethiopian Shield - request for translation from Italian

Hello, I acquired this shield (possibly Oromo?) at an international auction. Shields of this size (about 55 cm) often have a cracked edge, but this one is intact. There is an inscription on the inside - I would be grateful for help with translation.
Best,
Martin
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Old 26th July 2024, 02:59 AM   #2
Montino Bourbon
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“Bought in Mafsana in the year 1887 ….” The rest is unclear.
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Old 26th July 2024, 03:03 AM   #3
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“Bought in Mafsana in the year 1887 ….” The rest is unclear. May say ‘In the weapons market”.
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Old 26th July 2024, 08:56 AM   #4
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Thank you! (as far as Mafsana, unfortunately I cannot finf such a place on internet...)
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Old 26th July 2024, 10:03 AM   #5
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it also says " from Nicola de Maria (probably) ufficiale ( in the part where the text is eaten) then ...something...

Mafsana doesn't appear to be a name that can be found on line
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Old 26th July 2024, 10:52 AM   #6
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Hi, mafsana is Swahili for children... Hope it helps
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Old 26th July 2024, 05:22 PM   #7
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Philippe, Milandro, Montino - thanks
It seems that (probably under favourable circumstances) a leather product can last in relatively good condition for a very long time... If it is true what is written on that paper, this shield is cca 140 years old.
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Old 3rd August 2024, 12:18 AM   #8
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Very nice shield. I missed out on it.... Now, the "label" actually reads MASSAUA. The Italian used to write the double "S" that way. And the city was known as Massaua by the Italians, not MassaWa as it is commonly refereed to.
Hope this will shed some light on the issue. Cheers.
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Old 3rd August 2024, 09:07 AM   #9
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Massawa (or as Italians say Massaua ) is certainly a very good explanation.

I was born in Italy, am fluent Italian speaker and am experienced in old text but I've never came across any special way to write a double ss in Italian ( the use of F instead of S is medieval to maximum 18th century and common throughout Europe ).

The U looking like an n is very common, I write it like that too.

Regardless, Massaua complies with everything else indeed.


It certainly says " Nicola de Maria ufficiale dell'Esercito" ( and he uses here again the F instead )
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Old 3rd August 2024, 08:45 PM   #10
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In Italic calligraphy it is called "LONG S". It is even used in English handwriting.
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Old 4th August 2024, 01:13 PM   #11
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Dear Ron and Milandro. Thank you both very much for your help with deciphering
Regards,
Martin
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Old 4th August 2024, 04:32 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roanoa View Post
In Italic calligraphy it is called "LONG S". It is even used in English handwriting.
Beautiful example of handwriting in the Copperplate font. I learned to write this font in the 1950s in Grade 2 using a pen and steel nib dipped in an ink well. We used specially ruled paper that guided the height for upper and lower case letters. Thick down strokes, thin up strokes. Long risers (b,d,f,h,k,l,) semi-riser (t), long descenders (g,j,p,q,y).
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