A Fine Darfur Arm Dagger

A Fine Darfur Arm Dagger
Fur
Likely Al Fashir, Darfur, Mahdist Sudan - Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (Sudan)
Late 19th - Early 20th century (ca.1890 - 1910)
Steel, ivory (elephant), wood, metal alloy, leather, skin (crocodile)
Blade: 15,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 26,7cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 30cm
Collection Date: 2023
Collection Number: 375

Ex. French Private Collection (2023)

A fine silver adorned Sudanese arm dagger from the Darfur region, likely from the Darfur capital of Al Fashir. The steel blade is double- edged with a prominent central ridge, separating two central fullers with outside chamfered edges. The top section of the hilt is carved from wood with the lower half composed of elephant ivory and a disc- shaped pommel, decorated in black circle-dot motifs. Adorned with a silver alloy filigree band, silver russets, finely wrapped silver wirework around the central grip, and a domed silver pommel cap.

The sheath is tooled leather in stamped designs with a crocodile skin section. Silver alloy mouth and chape fittings. Missing its braided leather arm loop. A fine arm dagger with silver fittings in the Sudanese Arab style. Complete with its sheath. Similar daggers can be found in the Palace of Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in Al Fashir, Darfur (Photo 9).