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24th March 2005, 04:50 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 215
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Thanks, Mike.
It's definitely an odd one. Rudy D'Angelo has an extensive collection of Abyssinian and North African weapons and this one stumped him a little. The scabbard is like the coins in that it appears to have silver metal under a gold plating of some sort. The blade is more gold "washed" or gilded, but very faint. I saw one like it (same size, similar scabbard) on ebay months ago and let it pass. I almost wish I had it now for comparison. Anyone on the forum pick that one up? -d |
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24th March 2005, 05:14 PM
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#2 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Athens Greece
Posts: 479
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I am sorry to play devils advocate but does a tribal weapon and a silver plate metal match?
I dont know a lot about Abyssinian swords (I wish I had one) but I have the feeling of something more recent than the coin. The usual hilt of shotels (I think this is in this category) is one piece of horn. Here we have something lot more esthetic. The usual scabbard is wood and leather, sometimes with silver chape and throat. Here we have something more elaborate. I don’t say it is tourist piece. But I have the feeling that is not "correct" somehow. Also it has a Syrian “touch” that I cant define. I hope these devilish words don’t hurt anybody and I will be glad to learn that I am wrong. |
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24th March 2005, 05:38 PM
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#3 |
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Clearwater, Florida
Posts: 371
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LOL!
I can't see anyone getting offended over your statements, Yannis, and you're somewhat correct in your observations, but I'd say only in relation to tribal level pieces. Gold plating has been seen in pieces as old as the 1500's, I believe. N Africa had a lot of exposure, being at the hub of many trade routes and was even part of the ancient Greek empire, with a lot of European influence as far back as the Crusades, being a staging area for armies heading to the Holy Lands. While this particular sword doesn't appear extremely old, the early to mid 19th century wouldn't surprise me if it was well cared for, and possibly even a little older. For the type, it's a beautiful specimen, and, as I said earlier, I'd suspect a presentation piece much moreso than a "tourist" sword, having all of the earmarks of a real weapon. Africa is unusual in that it's not unusual to find pieces from the superb to the rudimentry found side by side and with all levels in between. One Uzbekistan sword I have was purchased by a Michigan college professor from a camel caravan camped outside of Jerusalem in the early 1990's, indicating that some old ways continue on, even today. Mike |
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24th March 2005, 05:44 PM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 306
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Nice sword
Hi all!
Very nice shortsword.Interesting design. |
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24th March 2005, 05:53 PM
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#5 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,886
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Plating has been done since ancient times,by what is known as fire gilding, now illegal in most of the western world.The precious metal is disolved in mercury appied to the piece and burnt off as gas leaving the item plated.Mercury is very piosonous.Tim
Last edited by Tim Simmons; 24th March 2005 at 06:46 PM. |
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24th March 2005, 07:01 PM
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#6 | |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 215
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Quote:
All comments welcome! Let me point you to some Abyssinian examples with both multi-piece grips and gilding on the blade. These first pics are all multi- piece hilts:     The gilding will be harder in pics to show but here are a few that still show it:   Yannis, the Syrian thing, I see what you mean. It's the little addition at the end of the scabbard that really does it. I think maybe "tribal" conveys something unintended when discussing Abyssinian weapons. By the mid-late 1800's they had acquired a lot of European weapons designed to their specifications. The gilding, plating, blueing were all present in weapons imported from the west. -d |
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