Mahdist Dagger
Mahdist Dagger
Sudanese Arab
Khartoum, Mahdist Sudan (Khartoum, Sudan)
Late 19th century (ca. 1880 - 1898)
Steel, wood, leather, bone
Blade: 34cm
Hilt & Blade: 42,2cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 49,2cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 490
Ex. American Art Market (2025)
A Sudanese dagger in the style of Darfur and Kordofan, but produced in the workshops of Mahdist Khartoum during the late 19th century. The straight double- edged steel blade is made of sheet metal with extensive acid etchings on both sides. The lower section has a panel of Thuluth calligraphy of untranslated Arabic. One section has the word, Khartoum. The upper portion of the blade has two snakes with Thuluth calligraphy within. The snake motifs are an adaptation of Persian Sufi Order iconography.
The hilt of carved wood, with a widened central grip, and a flared pommel in a crescent shape with a rounded central prong on the pommel. The elaborate sheath is made of various materials, meticulously inlaid in parquetry mosaics of bone, wood, and lacquer adhesive within long wooden strips used as a bordered frame. Some losses to the inlays. A very good quality Mahdist knife, complete with its beautiful and original sheath.
[1] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1936-0508-7-a
[2] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6731
[3] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5513
[6] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?sudan-ceremonial-dagger-57-cm
[7] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?curved-mahdist-dagger-41-5-cm
[8] https://africanarms.com/gallery?unusual-big-mahdist-dagger-58-5-cm
[9] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/north-african-set-of-three-blades-94e4c64a4c