Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 25th July 2024, 08:00 PM   #1
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 841
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
Attached Images
      
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th July 2024, 01:59 AM   #2
Montino Bourbon
Member
 
Montino Bourbon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Posts: 301
Default

“Bought in Mafsana in the year 1887 ….” The rest is unclear.
Montino Bourbon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th July 2024, 02:03 AM   #3
Montino Bourbon
Member
 
Montino Bourbon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Posts: 301
Default

“Bought in Mafsana in the year 1887 ….” The rest is unclear. May say ‘In the weapons market”.
Montino Bourbon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th July 2024, 07:56 AM   #4
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 841
Default

Thank you! (as far as Mafsana, unfortunately I cannot finf such a place on internet...)
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th July 2024, 09:03 AM   #5
milandro
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 470
Default

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
milandro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th July 2024, 09:52 AM   #6
philippe
Member
 
Join Date: May 2023
Posts: 1
Default

Hi, mafsana is Swahili for children... Hope it helps
philippe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th July 2024, 04:22 PM   #7
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 841
Default

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.
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd August 2024, 11:18 PM   #8
roanoa
Member
 
roanoa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 232
Default

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.
roanoa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd August 2024, 08:07 AM   #9
milandro
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 470
Default

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 )
milandro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd August 2024, 07:45 PM   #10
roanoa
Member
 
roanoa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 232
Default

In Italic calligraphy it is called "LONG S". It is even used in English handwriting.
Attached Images
 
roanoa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th August 2024, 12:13 PM   #11
Martin Lubojacky
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 841
Default

Dear Ron and Milandro. Thank you both very much for your help with deciphering
Regards,
Martin
Martin Lubojacky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th August 2024, 03:32 PM   #12
Ian
Vikingsword Staff
 
Ian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,181
Default

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).
Ian is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:40 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.