Nilotic Sudanese Crocodile Short Sword
Nilotic Sudanese Crocodile Short Sword
Fur / Nubian (?)
Omdurman, Anglo- Egyptian Sudan (Omdurman, Sudan)
Mid- 20th century (ca. 1945 - 1960)
Steel, ebony, ivory, leather, crocodile skin
Blade: 42,5cm
Hilt & Blade: 55,5cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 68cm
Collection Date: 2016
Collection Number: 66
An interesting short sword with an adolescent crocodile used as the sheath housing. Originating from the twin Nile city of Omdurman, Sudan. Animal talismanics were popular during the Mahdist period using whole reptile and crocodile sheaths, then later after the war campaign in 1898, sold to British and foreign tourists as "exotic" items in the city markets. This is one of those exotics marketed towards that trade around the mid- 20th century.
The blade is double- edged steel with a crudely made central fuller for 1/4 length. Each side has linear decorations at the base of the blade with chevrons and wavy lines. Engraved symbolic animal motifs on each side. On one, a bird, and the reverse, a fish with the Arabic inscription "Omdurman". The hilt is carved in a crescent shape with dense ebony wood, inset with decorative ivory rings and inserts. The ivory pommel cap is now missing. The sheath is leather housing a full adolescent crocodile where the blade is inserted into the mouth for storage. Circular ivory cuff bracelets with circle- dot motifs are used as baldric rings to the leather carrying strap. One broken.
Even though this is a tourist piece for trade, it is composed of higher end materials such as ebony wood and ivory. The form of the sword itself may be Nubian from the Dongola region along the Northern Nile, while the baldric rings are wrist bracelets made by the Fur in Darfur.