A Great Gile
 

Here is a great gile that I recently got (thanks Rsword) and I am told it may be 1900s - 1940s and from the Afar people in northeast Ethiopia. I know that this is way out of my areas of interest, but I felt God wanting me to get it and the silver mounts were irresistible.

WOW. That is one beautiful piece. LUCKY YOU!! There appears to be some arabian influence in the design of the silverwork.
Stu

Not only the silver work is very nice, I like the blade also. Extreme fine piece!

Congrats, Detlef

Thank you both.

Stu, that would not have occurred to me. Where do you see the Arabian influences? I can see what you are saying in the filigree in the top of the pommel. Where else do you see it?

Detlef, I also like the blade and that was the final straw - had to get it. :D

I can only add another congratulatory note. :) Very nice example, one of the best I've seen. The blade looks to be very good. The newer ones tend to have a pretty rough finish. This looks to have some decent age. Early 20th century seems more than likely.

Re arab influence, here is a pic of a Gusbi from southern arabia, sold some time ago by Artzi. The SHAPE of the silver on the scabbard tip is almost identical. Also the little rosettes on the hilt of your Gile bear close resemblance to those seen on many Yemeni Jambiya.
Stu

Hey thanks Stu, great comparison. I had never noticed before and now I see what you mean, especially on the distal tip. I learned (again :D ).

Hi Battara,
Congratulations to this nice Afar Chief ! Let me allow to take this opportunity to post again the picture of my old catch, which is similar to yours.

Re. "Arab similarity" - there is also one aspect. They used to wear it always - like jambiyas in Yemen - I would say as a part of the costume and life style. On the stomach - but not vertically, like in Yemen, but horizontally.

Both of those silver mounted beauties are just that....beauties!

Congrats to you both!

W :eek: W! What a nice piece you have! Thanks for sharing for comparison as well as the information.

Ok a question: was this worn by a chieftain? I know by someone wealthy.......

Here is a pic showing how jambiya were worn horizontally. No doubt the Gile was worn in a similar manner.
Stu

Ordinary Afar dagger was worn by men from their childhood till death, I think. This nice pieces - I am not sure if by chiefs in the true seńce of the word, or only by wealthy people. Some years ago I tried to find out why there were several types which mutually differ - if there were any rules (from the tribal point o view and/or socially structural point of view). I did not find practically anything. If there is any book on this, I would be happy to read it. We just called this type "Chief" to distinguish it. I will scan old picture of Lich Iyasu wearing it during his visit to Harar.

Lij Iaysu with the dagger

Nice to see how it was worn, thank you.

BTW - who was the prince the picture description is referring?

He was a little bit controversial nobleman I think from Menelik´s broader family and he ruled Abyssinia from 1913 to 1916. There is a lot on net

So this is evidence that silver mounted ones like this were held by nobility. Nice. :D

Some ordinary Afar knives - how they were worn
(group photo: Ethiopia, Awash, 24. 12. 1997, single photo: Awash - Hot Springs, 05/1999)