Ethiopian scabbard mounting

Martin Lubojacky · 28th July 2016, 09:24 AM

Enclosed please find some pictures for pleasure.

Gavin Nugent · 28th July 2016, 11:10 AM

Very nice Martin.

I do like the form of the top one most of all.
The interlocking "chains", does this motif have a name? I have seen it on many pommels, some of which may still be here with me somewhere.

Gavin

Martin Lubojacky · 28th July 2016, 04:26 PM

Hi Gavin,

Yes, interlocking chains were relatively frequent motif. Unfortunately, I do not know if it has any name. I think it was made of stamped plates and despite of its typicalness for Abyssinian mountings, I am of the opinion it is not characteristic for Abyssinian silver(brass)smithts. So maybe the stamped plates were imported. Typical Abassinian work is fligree ...

Martin

Jim McDougall · 28th July 2016, 07:08 PM

Outstanding examples of Abyssinian craftsmanship Martin!!
Especially like the almost Picasso-esque style of the Lion of Judah!

It is curious about the character of the interlocked chain type motif noted by Gav, and wonder if we might find a descriptive term. As he notes this does appear on a good number of examples. Maybe some references on Ethiopian arts and crafts might have something?

Thank you so much for sharing these!!!

roanoa · 28th July 2016, 08:21 PM

Greetings, Martin. Very fine examples. I have a few. I mostly find them with daggers, but, whenever possible, I find them a "new home" and fit them to sword scabbards. Here is a Dubat (Somali warrior) dagger that I recently found. The silver "tip" decoration is very obviously from a sword scabbard and this is the way it would look once fitted as per the original design. Unfortunately, a few of the "bells" were lost. Cheers, RON

Battara · 29th July 2016, 12:48 AM

I do LOVE Ethiopian silver work!!

28th July 2016, 09:24 AM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Ethiopian scabbard mounting Enclosed please find some pictures for pleasure. Attached Images

28th July 2016, 08:21 PM	#5
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 235	Greetings, Martin. Very fine examples. I have a few. I mostly find them with daggers, but, whenever possible, I find them a "new home" and fit them to sword scabbards. Here is a Dubat (Somali warrior) dagger that I recently found. The silver "tip" decoration is very obviously from a sword scabbard and this is the way it would look once fitted as per the original design. Unfortunately, a few of the "bells" were lost. Cheers, RON Attached Images Last edited by roanoa; 28th July 2016 at 10:45 PM.

28th July 2016, 11:10 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Very nice Martin. I do like the form of the top one most of all. The interlocking "chains", does this motif have a name? I have seen it on many pommels, some of which may still be here with me somewhere. Gavin

28th July 2016, 04:26 PM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Hi Gavin, Yes, interlocking chains were relatively frequent motif. Unfortunately, I do not know if it has any name. I think it was made of stamped plates and despite of its typicalness for Abyssinian mountings, I am of the opinion it is not characteristic for Abyssinian silver(brass)smithts. So maybe the stamped plates were imported. Typical Abassinian work is fligree ... Martin

28th July 2016, 07:08 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Outstanding examples of Abyssinian craftsmanship Martin!! Especially like the almost Picasso-esque style of the Lion of Judah! It is curious about the character of the interlocked chain type motif noted by Gav, and wonder if we might find a descriptive term. As he notes this does appear on a good number of examples. Maybe some references on Ethiopian arts and crafts might have something? Thank you so much for sharing these!!!

29th July 2016, 12:48 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I do LOVE Ethiopian silver work!!