Huge Beja Dagger with Silver Filigree

Battara · 31st December 2019, 04:38 AM

I recently got this Beja dagger. It is huge (12.75 inches long). The silver filigree caught my eye and the blade is hand forged and blued/blackened.

I know that these were used in Ethiopia and what is now Eretrea.

What I don't know is if this belonged to royalty. Never seen this before, but this is also out of my usual field.

BTW - I did clean the silver since it was completely black when it arrived.

Any help and comments would be appreciated.

TVV · 31st December 2019, 07:18 AM

Edster will probably comment on this, but from his paper we know they were made in Kassala (Sudan), and probably still are, to this day. The silver work is reminiscent of higher end Ethiopian shields and sword fittings. Whatever the case, this is the nicest I have seen.

mariusgmioc · 31st December 2019, 08:07 AM

Wow! Superb piece. Congratulations!

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!

G. Mansfield · 7th January 2020, 06:41 PM

Battera, certainly the best example of these type daggers that I have seen. The work is most certainly influenced by Yemeni silver work and similar to Abyssinian pieces. As others have noted, the hilt looks to be a hardwood of a reddish color rather than the typical African blackwood and the formation of the hilt is atypical differentiated from the x-hit types often seen from the Sudan such as Kassala. With that being said, I opinion this piece to be early 20th Abyssinian region as my best guess. Attached are two x-hilt reverse hook daggers from my collection with some silver wire and studs for comparison. Not too old, approximately mid-20th century, the largest at 14.5 inches. Also, an Ethiopian gile (not mine) with similar silver work for brainstorming.

Best,
-Geoff

Battara · 10th January 2020, 07:32 AM

Very nice thank you.

I LOVE that gile. I had one once, but the one you posted is one I would keep (I'm a real sucker for good silver filigree work

).

31st December 2019, 04:38 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Huge Beja Dagger with Silver Filigree I recently got this Beja dagger. It is huge (12.75 inches long). The silver filigree caught my eye and the blade is hand forged and blued/blackened. I know that these were used in Ethiopia and what is now Eretrea. What I don't know is if this belonged to royalty. Never seen this before, but this is also out of my usual field. BTW - I did clean the silver since it was completely black when it arrived. Any help and comments would be appreciated. Attached Images

31st December 2019, 06:19 PM	#6
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 230	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

7th January 2020, 06:41 PM	#7
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 77	Battera, certainly the best example of these type daggers that I have seen. The work is most certainly influenced by Yemeni silver work and similar to Abyssinian pieces. As others have noted, the hilt looks to be a hardwood of a reddish color rather than the typical African blackwood and the formation of the hilt is atypical differentiated from the x-hit types often seen from the Sudan such as Kassala. With that being said, I opinion this piece to be early 20th Abyssinian region as my best guess. Attached are two x-hilt reverse hook daggers from my collection with some silver wire and studs for comparison. Not too old, approximately mid-20th century, the largest at 14.5 inches. Also, an Ethiopian gile (not mine) with similar silver work for brainstorming. Best, -Geoff Attached Images

31st December 2019, 07:18 AM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,598	Edster will probably comment on this, but from his paper we know they were made in Kassala (Sudan), and probably still are, to this day. The silver work is reminiscent of higher end Ethiopian shields and sword fittings. Whatever the case, this is the nicest I have seen.

31st December 2019, 08:07 AM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,870	Wow! Superb piece. Congratulations!

31st December 2019, 02:17 PM	#4
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 390	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	#5
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10th January 2020, 07:32 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Very nice thank you. I LOVE that gile. I had one once, but the one you posted is one I would keep (I'm a real sucker for good silver filigree work ).