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1971.27.6.1

Sword [.1] with long blade and silver mounted hilt, with elaborately decorated leather sheath [.2] and sling with detached leather string [.3]. [SM 29/06/2007]

1971.27.6.1

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Collection type
Object
Description
Sword [.1] with long blade and silver mounted hilt, with elaborately decorated leather sheath [.2] and sling with detached leather string [.3]. [SM 29/06/2007]
Long description
Sword [.1] with long blade and silver mounted hilt, with elaborately decorated leather sheath [.2] and sling with detached leather string [.3]. The sword has a very long two edged blade with a fuller near the hilt on both surfaces. It has flared quillons and langets. The grip and pommel are mounted in ornately decorated silver with punched geometric designs. The pommel is circular in section and is conical. The sheath flares out towards the tip and then tapers back in again to a silver chape. The mouth is also mounted in silver. It is decorated on both surfaces with stamped geometric patterns. The lower half of the sheath has an applique band of darker leather with four circles of brown and white leather. In the centre is a small badge or pin of a gazelle, standing above the word DARFUR. The sheath has two ridges/bosses that are oval in section and covered with crocodile skin. They each have a diamond shaped leather tassel that is decorated with a stamped geometric pattern. Attached to these bosses , via two iron rings is the sling. The belt is also made of leather and is elaborately decorated along the front with stamped geometric designs. It also has several leather strings (one of which is detached) that hang from the one end of the sling, or are attached around it. The sling has a decorative silver disc attached to it, which is covered in stamped geometric patterns. The sling was originally decorated with ?7 small copper alloy bosses, however, two are now missing and only the holes they were attached to are visible. [SM 29/06/2007]
Person
Field collector Anthony John Arkell
PRM source Anthony John Arkell
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1953
Date collected
1920 - 1953
Acquisition information
Donated: 1971
Materials and processes
Material Iron Metal, Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Silver Metal, Material Crocodile Skin Reptile, Material Wood Plant, Material Copper Alloy Metal, Process Forged (Metal), Process Tooled, Process Punched, Process Stamped, Process Incised, Process Stitched
Dimensions
Width: max 92 mm sheath, Width: max 39 mm sword blade, Length: max 948 mm sheath, Length: max 610 mm leather string doubled, Length: max 1070 mm sword
Object numbers
Accession number: 1971.27.6.1 Accession number: 1971.27.6.2 Accession number: 1971.27.6.3

Search terms: Weapon, Ritual and Ceremonial, Figure, Sword, Sheath, Ceremonial Object, Carrying Device, Animal Figure