Billao
Available $300 + Shipping
Billao
Italian - British Somaliland (Somalia)
Somali / Dervish kingdom
Late 19th century (ca. 1890 - 1910)
Steel, horn, brass, zinc, iron, leather
Blade: 22,5cm
Hilt & Blade: 38,1cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 38,4cm
Collection Date: 2021
Collection Number: 244
Ex. American Art Market
An old example of the Somali billao knife from the Horn of Africa during the Somali Dervish uprising period. The knife has a double- edged, leaf- shaped asymmetrical blade, with a well forged medial ridge that tapers into the point. The central portion is blackened, while the chamfered edges are polished.
The hilt is carved from dark buffalo horn sectioned by a brass and zinc spacer. The hilt ends in an iron three- pronged pommel with a central spike that has a brass tip. The goat hide sheath is decorated in leather strands stitching on the top and bottom. Some repairs to the sheath using staples by a previous owner. A quality billao from the late 19th century in very good condition.
[1] W. O. Oldman, “Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnographic Specimens”, List No. 87, Vol. vii; Item #19 (1538)
[2] Spring, Christopher. 1993. “African Arms and Armor”. Page 105 – 106 (Info)
[3] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1947-16-169-a-b
[4] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1979-01-5016