Ethiopian Dagger
Ethiopian Dagger
Abyssinia - Italian Ethiopia, Italian East Africa (Ethiopia)
Second quarter of the 20th century (ca. 1925 - 1945)
Steel, brass, grout, ivory, aluminum, leather
Blade: 13cm
Hilt & Blade: 24,4cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 26cm
Collection Date: 2019
Collection Number: 99
Ex. American Art Market (2019)
A dagger from the area of central Ethiopia, most likely from the capital of Addis Ababa, dating to around WWII era. The double- edged iron blade is plain with a slightly raised center. The hilt is composed of segments of horn and elephant ivory separated by brass spacers. The ivory has a honey yellow patina from age. Decorated with brass strips and nails, along with aluminum (?) strips. There are grout- like sections between the horn and ivory. Brass plate pommel with an ivory cap. Leather sheath with belt loop.
A quality older example composed of ivory, while new ones are still being produced with lesser quality and the use of bone. The sheath is unoriginal to the knife but also shows substantial age. This knife was likely a war era bring back from the Italian campaigns.