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Billao (Belawa) Sword
Dervish Somali
Darawiish - Italian Somaliland - British Somaliland (Somaliland - Somalia)
Late 19th - Early 20th century (ca. 1890 - 1910)
Steel, iron, horn, zinc, leather
Blade: 36,8cm
Hilt & Blade: 59,1cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 59,7cm
Collection Date: 2020
Collection Number: 151

Ex. American Art Market (2020)

An old example of the Somali billao or belawa sword from the Horn of Africa during the Somali Dervish uprising period. Many examples were captured as war trophies during the Italian and British war campaigns of Somaliland.

The straight leaf shaped asymetrical steel blade is double- edged with medial ridge that transitions into the point. The hilt is carved from segments of dark buffalo horn stacked between thin layers of zinc. Squeezed between the blade and the hilt is a zinc ferrule. The hilt ends with an iron three- pronged pommel with an engraved central spike. Complete with its goat hide sheath. A very good old quality example in great condition. Uncomon sword.

Photographs 9 & 10: Somali warriors.

[1] W. O. Oldman, “Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnographic Specimens”, List No. 87 Vol. vii.; Item No. 23 (15906)

[2] Spring, Christopher. 1993. “African Arms and Armor”. Page 105 – 106 (Info)

[3] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1979-01-5019

[4] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1933-1114-48-a

[5] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1928-0509-44

[6] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1928-0509-42

[7] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1947-16-170-a

[8] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1979-01-4953

[9] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-25827

[10] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6234

[11] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6144

[12] https://galleryrider.com/index.php/african-art/archive/asymmetrical-blades/somali-short-sword-belawa

[13] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?7-billao-sword-family

[14] https://vikingsword.com/lew/w0035/w0035.html

[15] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/somali-somalia-region-of-the-horn-of-africa-71-c-ba045e0b83 (Sold €1,280 including premium October 2021)