Period Photos of People with Ethnographic Arms
 

Since the thread with period photos of Sahel region warriors was well received, I thought why not start a general thread on historic photos of people with ethnographic arms.

I often come across old photos from all across the world and it could be nice to maintain a general thread to share these important records of a past time.

I'll start off with this photo. Perhaps we can all try to keep a similar format of information about each photo to make things easy to read? :)


Where: Tunis.
When: 1931.
Who: A eunuch guarding a harem gate.
Weapons visible: A nimcha.
Source if known: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationa...n/photostream/

Hello, that could be a good topic, I personally collect old photos of people with cold-arms, there are several ethnical types among them.

Yemen, Oman, Saudi, Jordan

More...

Jordan Arab Legion:

And one of my favorite photos, latest purchase - yet on the way to me so I show you scan of previous owner with his watermarks, soon it'll arrive. Arab volunteer at battle for Jerusalem, he has a shibriya dagger at his belt.

One more found, also from my collection

Also...

These are reprints but anyway I purchased them. Bedouins of Palestine.

Young Palestinian with shibria dagger

Also reprint - Omani sultan Qaboos with royal dagger

Salaams Devadatta It appears that this is not he. ... checking...ah yes this is his father of course... Sultan Said bin Taimour in the USA in 1938.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Oh I'm so sorry, that's other sultan, the original photo dates back to 1938 so am I right that's Said bin Taimur?

P.S. Ah, I see your reply now, thanks!

Thanks for a great start to this thread guys. To keep it going...

Where: Congo.
When: unknown.
Who: Warrior and his wife.
Weapons visible: A spear.
Source if known: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ear_couple.png

Great photos guys!

Included is the picture of the Amir of Kuwait, he is wielding a badawi saif.

FROM THE SCARIFICATION ON THE FOREHEADS OF THE LAST PICTURE THEY MUST BE MEMBERS OF THE KLINGON TRIBE. :D SERIOUSLY WHAT TRIBE IS THIS AS I HAD NOT SEEN THESE TRIBAL MARKINGS BEFORE.
A FEW PICTURES OF NIAS WARRIORS. THE WARRIOR BY THE LARGE DRUM TAKEN 1929

Unfortunately there was no tribal attribution with the photo. Hopefully one of our Congo experts will recognize it!

Thanks to all for the great photos. :)

This photos are from Damascus, but that s all I know about them

I collected these while researching Chinese Dao, all out of copyright as far as I know. Between 1900 and 1950 for the most part.

And these from Tibet.

Maori Queen with Taiaha and Patu
 

One of my great grandfathers pics. He was press agent at the turn of the 19th/20th century.

When: turn of 20th c.
Where: Basilan
Who:Datu Kalun and Family
Weapons Visible: Kris

When: early 1900's
Where: Sulu
Who: Datu Amir Hussin and entourage
Weapon Visible: Kalis

When: Early 1900's
Who: Panglima Hassan
Where: Jolo
Weapons Visible: Kalis and Barung

Where: Jolo
When: early 1900's
Who: group of datus i would never mess around with
Weapon visible: Barungs

Here's a couple of images of Acholi warriors in Uganda, with their shields and spears. From the book "Uganda to Khartoum" by A B Lloyd 1906.

Maratha boys with tulwars. Bombay. 2nd half of the 19th century

Where: Nepal
When: c. 1868
Who: A group of Nepalese Magar tribesmen
Weapons visible: Kukri, self-bow, kora (AKA khunda)
Source if known: The People of India : A series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan originally prepared under the authority of the government of India, and reproduced by J. Forbes Watson and John William Kaye between 1868 - 1875 LINK

Hi,
Photos with titles taken from the book Berkley quoted.
Regards,
Norman.

P.S. The link Berkley provided has an excellent variety of photographs.

More.

And more.

Wow! I am blown away. I've got to get me a copy of that People oF India book

Weapons of the Maharajah of Scindia C1875.

Thank you to all for continuing to post fascinating photos. For me these images, from times when the items in our collections were still in use, is a true window into the history of what we have.

I'll continue with another.

Where: Congo
When: assumed early 1900s.
Who: Mongelima warriors
Weapons visible: Spears, shields, bow, long knife.
Source if known: Old Belgian postcard.

Satsuma Samurai of the Boshin War period, ie the real "Last Samurai". Armed with Katana and Wakizashi.

Estate Guards , Japan in the 1860's, armed with naginata, Wakizashi and Tanto, nb the leader might be carrying a katana but none of the others. Also mail armour rather than the lameller seen in studio photo's. Part of the Beato collection.
Both these photo's hand tinted at that time.

Japan, I belive in the 1870's, katana and wakizashi, note the length of katana tsuka of the standing samurai in the casual pose, way over what's considered normal, apparently a fashionable affectation at this time. Btw, sorry if I am not managing to stick to the format, doin' mi' best. I collected these pics as costume reference for a guide to trad Wafuku. I have collected the odd (very odd) Japanese blade over the years, but an area too rich for me nowadays, alas.

Manchuria, 1932, Japanese troops one carrying a trophy sword, dadao, taken from a Chinese soldier.

A repeat of this one but with attribution, Shanghai 1937, Chinese soldier armed with rifle and Dadao.
By the way, I think this is a fantastic thread, as has been said, putting these things we collect into context.

FIJI PICTURES SEVERAL FORMS OF CLUBS AND TRIBAL ATTIRE REPRESENTED. AS IS USUAL DURING THAT TIME MOST ALL POSED PICTURES
PICTURE WITH SEVERAL BOYS WITH CLUBS TAKEN 1881 IN VITI LEVU HIGHLANDS.
WARRIORS DRAGGING DINNER HOME 1940 JUST A REINACTMENT.
TWO UNDATED AND THE OTHER ONES 1901 AND 1928.

Where: Syria
When: assumed early 1900s.
Who: Kurdish cavalry.
Weapons visible: Spears.
Source if known: Old French postcard.

Old fighter. Udaipur. 1935