Beja Dagger
Beja Dagger
Beja
Anglo -Egyptian Sudan (Sudan) - Italian Eritrea (Eritrea)
Second quarter 20th century (ca. 1920 - 1940)
Wood (ebony or African blackwood), silver alloy, steel, leather
Blade: 21,6cm
Hilt & Blade: 33cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 34,9cm
Collection Date: 2016
Collection Number: 38
Ex. Lew Waldman Collection: Fayetteville, New York, USA (2016)
The traditional dagger of the Beja People, along with the Hadendoa, Beni-Amir, and other numerous subtribes coming from the Sudan and Eritrea region. This example is the "dog-leg" shaped blade variation complete with its sheath. The steel blade is double- edged in the "dog-leg" form. Each side has engraved chevrons near the base of the blade and engraved motifs at halfway the length.
Wooden (ebony or African blackwood) "X" fluted hilt with wrapped silver wire on the central grip and silver alloy buttons adorning the front side. Tooled red leather sheath with black leather braid stitching. A complete example from the second quarter of the 20th century. Almost certainly from the Eastern Sudan.