Seif
Seif
Amhara / Oromo
Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
Late 19th - Early 20th century (ca. 1890 - 1910)
Steel, horn, brass
Blade: 31 3/8" (79.7cm)
Hilt & Blade: 36 1/4" (92.1cm)
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2024
Collection Number: 419
Ex American Art Market (2024)
Seif (sword) from the Abyssinian Empire of Ethiopia. This example dates to between 1890 - 1910, during the Solomonic Menelik II Dynasty reign. The long and straight double- edged steel blade with two deep central fullers extending almost to the point with a medial ridge present along the remainder. The fullers are decorated within of elaborate floral and script etchings. On the front side with Amhara script "ሰርኪስ ቴ" (Possibly a reference to Sarkis Terzian) is engraved above a stamp of the Imperial Lion of Judah, and "DEPOSÉ" (registered design) on the ricasso. A stamped crown is present at the base of the blade, with the remainder engraved with extensive stylized floral repeating patterns. On the reverse, "S. TERZIAN" is stamped on the ricasso. The first half of the blade is engraved with Ge'ez script ""ኢትዮጵያ ፡ ታበጽሕ ፡ ዕጸዊሂ ፡ በእግዚአብሔር ፡" which is a quote from Psalms Chapter 68: 31 "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God", while the remaining half of the blade is engraved with the same repeating floral patterns as the opposite side. The blade is a German import of Solingen manufacture. The hilt of three sections bovine horn carved in an "I" shaped with a domed brass pommel cap decorated in scrolls.
The German imported blade, stamped with "S. Terzian", for Sarkis Terzian (1868 - 1915). Tarzian was an Armenian arms dealer who spent time in Egypt and Ethiopia during the late 19th and early 20th century. His work included the procurement of large quantities of arms from Europe for the forces of Menelik II, importing German, Austrian, British, and Russian blades for the Ethiopian Empire. A very good Ethiopian Seif with an elaborate and crisp German blade.
Photograph 19: Emporer Menelik II on the throne in coronation garb and regalia.
[1] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=7059
[2] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3200
[3] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=2188
[4] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4883
[5] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=7067
[6] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5532
[7] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=2235
[8] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4481
[9] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5890
[10] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?8-gurade-91-cm
[11] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?2-gurade-with-african-and-european-blade
[12] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?10-gurage-handles-kl
[13] https://www.spesbona-arms.com/product-page/an-ethiopian-saif