ID on Sahel leather pattern

Iain · 9th April 2014, 09:07 AM

Hi Ibrahiim,

The Sahel is simply the strip of land lying below the Sahara and is the transitional zone before the forest climates closer to the equator. When discussing swords, this is typically divided into the regions using takouba and those using kaskara, with of course Ethiopia at the far end.

The question was not as vast as you might think! While the Sahel is a large area, there are many commonalities in decorative elements, divided up between the major ethnic groups in these areas.

As you can see from previous responses to this thread this particular example has been more or less confirmed to be from Ethiopian regions.

Some of the patterns commonly observed in the Western Sahel have their roots with Berber influence and of course as you note Islamic influence certainly played a part. However non-Islamic groups had similar traditions of decorative motifs.

All the best,
Iain

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 9th April 2014, 04:52 PM

Yes indeed ... I noted from Art of Ethiopia see www.pinterest.com/bwtcproject/art-of-ethiopia that Ethiopian art comes in many forms, including religious and secular painting, basketry, crosses, jewelery, icons, illuminated manuscripts, crowns and many other art forms. Its history goes back almost three thousand years to the kingdom of D'mt.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

9th April 2014, 09:07 AM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Hi Ibrahiim, The Sahel is simply the strip of land lying below the Sahara and is the transitional zone before the forest climates closer to the equator. When discussing swords, this is typically divided into the regions using takouba and those using kaskara, with of course Ethiopia at the far end. The question was not as vast as you might think! While the Sahel is a large area, there are many commonalities in decorative elements, divided up between the major ethnic groups in these areas. As you can see from previous responses to this thread this particular example has been more or less confirmed to be from Ethiopian regions. Some of the patterns commonly observed in the Western Sahel have their roots with Berber influence and of course as you note Islamic influence certainly played a part. However non-Islamic groups had similar traditions of decorative motifs. All the best, Iain

9th April 2014, 04:52 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Yes indeed ... I noted from Art of Ethiopia see www.pinterest.com/bwtcproject/art-of-ethiopia that Ethiopian art comes in many forms, including religious and secular painting, basketry, crosses, jewelery, icons, illuminated manuscripts, crowns and many other art forms. Its history goes back almost three thousand years to the kingdom of D'mt. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi.