A Fine Abyssinian Highland Dagger
A Fine Abyssinian Highland Dagger
Amhara
Likely Addis Ababa, Abyssinia / Ethiopia
First half 20th century
Horn, elphant ivory, aluminum, steel, silver, leather
Blade: 24,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 36,2cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 47cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 291
Ex. Rick Stroud (RSWORD): Raleigh, North Carolina, USA: (2022)
A fine Abyssinian dagger in early mounts. The plain steel blade is curved, double-edged. Hilt carved from elephant ivory with horn segements separated by aluminum spacers. There are ivory circular inserts within the horn segments. There are also incised circle-dot motifs on the ivory guard. Silver crown pommel.
The sheath is of silver alloy with fine filigree Abyssinian decorated work. There is untranslated (Amharic?) script on the locket. Leather insert.
The Abyssinian chape and pommel cap are from a seif, gurade, or a shotel sword paired with a later red leather insert to fit the blade. The knife, at least the blade, is newer than the ornaments but still has a respectful age. These examples were probably early tourist pieces assembled from older sword components where the sheath leather had likely disintegrated or had shrunken and was discarded. This piece is one of the more fine examples seen.