A Fine Ivory Billao
Harar / Oromo / Somali
Likely Hararghe Region, Ethiopian Empire (Somali Region, Ethiopia)
Early 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1925)
Elephant ivory, horn, brass, steel, aluminum or pewter (?)
Blade: 18,4cm
Hilt & Blade: 31,8cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number:

A very good example of the billao knife coming from the borderlands between Ethiopia and Somalia. The double-edged asymmetrical blade features a depressed center that builds into a slightly raised central rib toward the last half of the blade. The hilt, with nicely matured patina and age cracks, is carved from elephant ivory with a horn section separated by metal spacer segments, possibly aluminum or pewter. The brass pommel is irregular in that it is semi-circle shaped rather than the typical single or triple spiked prongs. This shape of pommel form is associated with Oromo daggers of Ethiopia and shows cross-cultural influences traversing the region. Missing the goat hide sheath.

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