Chieftain Javelin Head Scepter
Mahdist
Mahdist Sudan (Sudan - South Sudan)
Late 19th (ca. 1880 - 1900)
Iron, reptile skin
Blade: 17,8cm
Overall: 55,2cm
Collection Date: 2021
Collection Number: 226

Ex. American Private Collection

A Sudanese Chieftain javelin spear head scepter from the Mahdist period. The leaf- shaped double- edged iron blade has a medial ridge with two outside shallow grooves that follow parallel to the blade's edge. The socket forged in a twisted manner before widening into a conical form toward the bottom for access to insert a wooden shaft. Reptile skin grip sewn together to form a handle at the base of the socket. The wooden shaft now missing, likely broken and turned into a scepter for parade or ceremonial use. Items like these were used by chiefs or higher dignitaries before battle to rally fellow ansars. Reptile skin grips are found on many Mahdist period objects, used anywhere from Darfur and Kordofan into the capital Omdurman / Khartoum into the Greater Upper Nile. From the spearhead blade shape, this javelin is thought to be from the Southern Kordofan Region or further south.

[1] “Beauté Fatale. 1992. “Armes d’ Afrique Centrale”. Page 184. #296 (similar)

[2] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-91106

[3] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3820

[4] http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1872

[5] https://www.africanarms.com/gallery?tebu-throwing-spear-and-lance-and-el-obeid-spear

[6] https://www.africanarms.com/gallery?kordofan-el-obeid-38-5-cm