A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

  • A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

  • A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

  • A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

  • A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

  • A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

  • A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

  • A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

  • A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt

A Fine Billao with Ivory and Horn Hilt
Somaliland (Somalia)
Dervish Kingdom
Late 19th century (ca. 1890 - 1900)
Elephant ivory, silver, horn, zinc, steel, goat hide
Blade: 21,6cm
Hilt & Blade: 38,7cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 40cm
Collection Date: 2016
Collection Number: 42

Ex. Auctions Imperial: Chatsworth, California, USA (2016)
Ex. California, USA Private Collection
Ex. Oriental Arms: Haifa, Israel

A fine and old example of the Somali billao knife of the Horn of Africa. The blade is hand forged, double-edged, asymmetrical, with a slight medial ridge tapering into a point. The center is blackened. The hilt is carved from elephant ivory with the central grip section carved from a dark horn separated with a brass and zinc spacer. Silver pommel spike, but missing the finial bulb. Fine intricately tooled sheath of goat hide.
A fine example with good age and a rare combination of the ivory and horn variation, the only example found of this type. Beautiful deep yellow patian to the ivory from age.