Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

  • Prestige Throwing Knife

Prestige Throwing Knife
Fur
Khartoum, Mahdist Sudan (Khartoum, Sudan)
1885 - 1898
Iron, silver
Blade: 50,8cm
Hilt & Blade: 53,7cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2021
Collection Number: 173

Ex. Rick Stroud (RSWORD): Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (2021)

A very fine prestige throwing knife, also known as a replica throwing knife, from the Mahdist period of Sudan. Examples such as this, along with axes, tridents, and standards, were produced in the workshops of Khartoum after the British fall of Omdurman from 1885 until the demise of the Mahdist state in 1898. Their form and decoration are consistent in manner with thuluth etchings influenced by Qajar period arms in regards to the Sufi order. They were not used for battle but rather used as an emblem or insignia of rank and leadership, tools of talismans to rouse ansars before battle in Sufi devotion. Associated with alams or standards decorated in the same manner, they were badges of command and were also used to symbolize units within the Mahdist army.

This prestige knife is made of heavy iron with unsharpened edges and protruding blades. The iron is quite thick and likely made from old railway tracks from Northern Sudan and Wadi Halfa, where quality steel could be recycled within Khartoum by local bladesmiths. The blade is completely acid etched with repeated calligraphic koranic verses of thuluth (pseudo- Arabic) script. Inlaid with fine silver inscriptions and Islamic symbolism of stars, crescents, tridents, and other motifs of magical and symbolic elements. There is patina where the grip was present, now missing, which would have been reptile skin, leather, or vegetal fiber. A very fine mahdist prestige knife with bold acid etchings and complete silver inlays.

[1] http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28561&highlight=mahdist+knife

[2] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341941623_SUFI_IN_WAR_PERSIAN_INFLUENCE_ON_AFRICAN_WEAPONRY_IN_19TH_CENTURY_MAHDIST_SUDAN

[3] https://africa.si.edu/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/striking-iron-the-art-of-african-blacksmiths/blades-of-power-and-prestige/

[4] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-78671

[5] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1954-23-973_1

[6] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1954-23-963

[7] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1979-01-123

[8] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1954-23-976

[9] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1936-0508-8

[10] https://african-weapons.com/gallery?mahdist-trilogy

[11] https://www.ertribal.com/index.php/tribal-art/blades/mahdist-prestige-axe-sudan

[12] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-19th-century-sudanese-battle-sceptre-or-axe-703-c-cc2408f87d?objectID=169468320&algIndex=undefined&queryID=8841963dd331c92fff10b8d000ab23e9

[13] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/throwing-iron-sword-989-c-3b74d8a97a?objectID=156277304&algIndex=undefined&queryID=dff6570c8c9da6f3c3102efd4014eda9