Billao
Billao
British Somaliland - Italian Somaliland (Somaliland) - Somalia
Somali Dervish kingdom
Early 20th century (ca. 1915 - 1935)
Steel, ivory, horn, brass, copper, zinc, silver
Blade: 19,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 41,6cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2019
Collection Number: 462
Ex. Little John's Auction Service: Orange, California, USA (2019)
Ex. Cowan's Auctions: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (2019)
A fine example of the Somali billao knife from the Horn of Africa. The knife has a double- edged, leaf- shaped asymmetrical blade made from sheet metal. A slight medial ridge follows to the acute point. The central portion of the blade is blackened.
The hilt is carved from two sections of elephant ivory with a beveled center, separated by a dark buffalo horn segment with copper and zinc spacers. The pommel ends in a long silver prong bound in silver filigree. Of special interest is the silver prong, as it is abnormally longer than most examples seen. Missing its original goat hide sheath and belt. A fine billao in excellent condition.
Photograph 10: Somali Dubat of the Dir Clan (Likely Italian Somaliland, towards the WWII period).
[1] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1954-23-2664-a-c
[2] https://oriental-arms.com/product/billao-dagger-from-east-africa-3/
[3] https://oriental-arms.com/product/billao-dagger-from-east-africa/
[4] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?7-two-billao-somalia-37-43-5-cm