ETHIOPIAN, ANYONE?
 

Hi guys. As you must know by now, I am interested in Ethiopian weapons. I would like to know how many of you share this interest, even marginally, and how many of you actually have Ethiopian weapons. Hope I'll get some response. Cheers, RON

I'm in Ron...even love the food too...but you already knew that. :)

Me too, as you know :)

Count me in!

Lew

How could you not be? :confused:

I like Gurades, but not food.... Sorry.
Read the most recent Flashman's adventure" Flashman on the March": British Magdala campain.

I like the women moslty but the weapons are nice too.

Rich history......and some very nice weapons......

Definitely find the weapons interesting. Going to have to try the food.

Count me in Ron! I don't have any in my collection though, someone out here seems to be getting them all first ;) .

Jeff

Hi, guys. I'm happy to see some interest. I am sure there still are some guys out there that will join the team. I plan to share with you some of my best pieces (maybe one a week). I would be glad to shatre some food as well .... (Derho Wat is my favourite. SUPER hot!). At least one of you has mentioned the women. They are as fascinating as their swords and as spicy as their food. Cheers, RON

Here is the first "gem" from my collection. A great Amhara shield of heavy leather, velvet and gilded decorations. I have showed you mine: show me yours!! Selamta. Ron

Marginal interest in the weapons, especially saifs and gurades. Haven't tried the food, and maybe I should.

roanoa

Here is one of mine a sword not a shield though.

Lew

I really like Ethiopian pieces!
 

The the weapons and the religious artifacts are really neat. I have some swords with good german blades. One with a hilt that may be translucent rhino horn. Menelik period.

They even claim to have the Ark of the Covenant somewhere.

I really like the prayer scrolls / talismans.

Here is an Etiopean curiosity. About 4 inches long. Some kind of silver, probably low grade.

Any guesses? If you already know for sure, please hold off posting the answer. I think it would be fun to hear some guesses.

Coke spoon if modern or ear cleaner if old? :D

Spiral

Hi Bill. SPIRAL nailed it! Post your swords, PLEASE.

Aww, Spiral, You gave it away! I was hoping for some off-the-wall guesses!

My guess is a snuff spoon I always see the African snuff containers on ebay.



Lew

The weapons I have are far from noteworthy but this is. I have not had confirmation that it is Ethiopian but i think it is. I also have a rather nice painting on vellum. I wander off subject. This might be the container for the coke.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ppy/egg003.jpg

Looks like a one time use lunchbox!

I made a mistake in posting. I mant to REPLY and somehow got NEW THREAD. submitted it and then found out that I was wrong, but there seemed no way to put in in your thread. So here is a link.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3282

I have more Ethiopian swords and stuff and will post them here in the right thread.

Its a coke spoon then Bill? :D

I thought an ear wax collector was quite of the wall! ;)

Spiral :rolleyes:

It IS an ear wax collector! Did you just guess? That is really impressive!

Sorry Bill just teasing, :D

You see similar tools in some kukri pouches. ;) So semi-educated guess realy.

Spiral

OK, guys. Here is a selection of some European gurade grips and a couple of local imitation. The plain pommel (seen lots of these) has the Lion of Judah and the initial of Menelik on the lanquettes. The "Lion head" (lots of these also) has plain lanquette. The second "lion head" has a more elaborate design and the Lion of Judah on one of the lanquettes, the other one is plain. (Only seen two of these). The fourth one (unique) was copied/imitated in German silver by a local smith. Both lanquettes have the Lion of Judah. Last (also unique) is a gilded, locally made high quality one. Blade is a very nice Wilkinson. Both lanquettes have angels. Can any of you add to this?

Didn't have a chance to show the examples I have of Ethiopian weapons in my earlier post. At least I'm pretty sure the shields are right.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n/IMG_0943.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n/img_0296.jpg

I can see your interest spans from Morocco to Somalia.... Nice gurade and shuields. Even nicer billao.

gurade
 

I saw Ron's posting of the Guades and though I might post this one.

Did a little blade cleanup with 600 grit and 1500 grit sandpaper.

Sure would like to have a translation. I am sure that I will post these upside down. Have no ida about which way is corrrect, but everytime I ask for a translation, its upside down.

Does the GG and thermometer on the blade mean some sword manufacturer like Solingen?

Anyway here it is.

The first word on the blade is MENELIK (Emperor of Ethiopia before Haile Selassie) and you have it upside down. Ethiopian sentences (in this case it's just a word) end with 4 dots as in the second inscription which is SAINT GEORGE (protector of Ethiopia). The writing on the ricasso is a bit of a puzzle because it says NIKOLA SUPPLIER TO THE EMPEROR and I have no idea of who this NIKOLA was. Maybe one of the many Armenian traders that supplied European goods to Ethiopia. The GG has generated a flurry of interpretations. Someone has suggested GRENAL of GLASGOW (doubt it...) or GEBRUDER GRAH (doubt it...). Jeff Demetrick and I had a discussion about this and we agree that in all likelyhood is GESETZLICH GESCHUETZT (ofter referred to as GES GESH) which I believe means REGISTERD MARK. I actually documented a sword that under the Lion of Judah has the words GES GESH. Jeff also identified the thermometer, but I have to dig out that info. Jeff: help!!

Hi Ron,

I thought the Bat signal looked like a thermometer tonight :) .

the thermometer was used by the Solingen firm of F.W. Holler 1866-1975.

Hope this helps
Jeff.

I gues this would have to be Menelik the second?

Does this help date the sword to the period of the early 1900s? Or could it be later and just refer to Menelik?

Did these guades often have blades like this with the words and floral designs?

What can you tell me about the sword?

It's of course Menelik II. Menelik I, according to tradition, was the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. He fled Israel (with the Ark of the Covenant), followed the Nile to Abyssinia and founded the Solomonic Dinasty.
Your sword, made by Hoeller in Germany - according to Jeff - is often referred to as "officer" model. I have some reservation about that definition. Most likely it was purchased by some Ras and given to his entourage. It was certainly carried by men of status. I have seen quite a few of these (relatively speaking) and found out the blades, identical in scritps and decorations, came in at least three different curvatures. I'll post the pictures of the 3 ASAP. In the meantime, here is a picture of an important leader wearing one and the "page" that I produced of one of mine.

Hi Bill. Me again. I snapped one quick picture just to show you the different curvatures. As I said, the blades are otherwise identical. I wonder if there was a straight blade as well... The hilt was plated. Grip was wood with a black plastic covering held in place by two strands of twisted copper wire.

WOW! Beautiful swords!

I hate to say that I once turned down an exquisite shotel. Ivory and gold. Still regret it, but I just did not have the money at that time! Gone now.

Well, the past does not count so much as now. What do you think of this shield? I bought it some time ago and forgot what country it came from, but it looks so much like Nagawarriors' shield that I thought I'd dig it up and post it.

Bill, I have made a couple of bad mistakes myself... But the shotel ivory/gold sounds like a biggie. Any ideas of where it ended up? Any pictures? Now, the shield: 100% Abyssinian. Great shape. Love it.

Don't know where the shotel ended up :( :( but it is gone. $1200 I think was the asking price.

Thanks for the info on the shield.

I also really like Ethiopian art, prayer scrolls and jewelry. It has a vitality that most Christian art lost in the Byzantine.

Will post a modern piece about Menelik I. Kind of fun, about Queen of Sheba and Soloman. I think that it is on goat skin.

I realize that this is a weapons forum, but I think it is important to know about the culture, art, religion, political structure, history. All these give a depth of underestanding that really enriches the weapon collecting.

Been out of town all week, so here's my belated "count me in".

The shotel on top is one of my personal favorites, the 4th from the top is a Wilkinson:

http://www.ancient-east.com/collecti...inal_group.jpg

Roano should remember this one.... :)

http://www.ancient-east.com/collection/04gurade.jpg

That shotel closer up:

http://www.ancient-east.com/collecti...n/shotels3.jpg

Here are mine.
The first one is straight, with absolutely superb blade: rings like a bell! It has Roanoa's beloved "GG" mark and the Lion of Judah on the other side.
The curved one has a Russian blade, "Zlatoust August 1853 year"
Both have rhino (I mean it!) handles. The German one has original scabbard, the Russian one's scabbard is an old replacement.

Kng Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
 

Apologies for the reflection haze in the pictures. The original panel is on goat skin. I do believe it is modern, but interesting.

As I understand it the story depicted is:

When the Queen of Sheba ruled Ethiopia, a beautiful bird from the land of Israel flew over the Queen's palace. When the bird returned to Israel, he reported to King Solmon just what he had seen--a land ruled by a magnificent Queen, filled with endless mountains and unexplored wilderness. King Solomon ordered that the bird return to Ethiopia with an invitation for the Queen to visit the Land of Israel. When the Queen arrived, she showered the King with plentiful silver and gold, amber, spices, incense, and perfumes. King Solomon fell in love with the Queen of Sheba and that night, the two made love. Before returning to Ethiopia, the King offered Sheba a ring and asked that if she were to bare him a son, that she send their son and the ring back to him. When their son, Menelik, was old enough to travel, he was escorted to his father's kingdom in Israel. After being educated in Israel, Menelik requested to return home to Ethiopia. Solomon ordered that the counselor's first born sons accompany Menelik on his travels. The sons secretly carried the Ark of the Covenant from the Temple of Solomon into Ethiopia. Menelik became the Ethiopian King and the Falasha Jews claim descent from the sons of King Solomon's counselors. As the legend continues....

First picture shows something mystical happening. I can't figure it out.