A Rare Ingessana Sword (Hameg)
Ingessana
Mahdist Sudan - Dar Funj - Sennar, Anglo- Egyptian Sudan (Tabi Hills Region, Blue Nile State, Sudan)
Late 19th - Early 20th century (ca. 1880 - 1920)
Steel, horn, bone
Blade: 62,5cm
Hilt & Blade: 87cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2024
Collection Number: 452

Ex. Oriental Arms: Haifa, Israel (2024)

A rare prestige or ceremonial sword known as hameg from the Ingessana People near the Tabi Hills Region of the Blue Nile Sudan. The straight steel blade is double- edged tapering to a point. Two shallow grooves follow the blade's edge on each side. Within, linear and geometrically incised patterns of dots, circles, arcs, diamonds, and cross-hatched designs are present. Near the point is a stylized crocodile in the same manner of decoration on both sides.

The large hilt is composed of carved sections of horn with a bone central grip. The pommel is carved with an upcurved horn section incised with small dotted decorations. Ending in a single horn prong. Missing the crocodile sheath. These are somewhat rarer swords where not many are found in museums or private collections. Most examples date to the Mahdist period.

[1] https://oriental-arms.com/product/very-good-and-rare-ingassana-long-dagger-short-sword/

[2] https://galleryrider.com/index.php/african-art/archive/symmetrical-blades/ceremonial-long-sword-hameg-ingessana-fundj-sudan