Knife [.1] with curved blade in highly decorated leather bound wooden sheath [.2] with carrying belt or strap. [SM 07/06/2007]

Collection type: Object
Description: Knife [.1] with curved blade in highly decorated leather bound wooden sheath [.2] with carrying belt or strap. [SM 07/06/2007]
Long description: Knife [.1] with curved blade in highly decorated leather bound wooden sheath [.2] with carrying belt or strap. The knife blade is double edged with a central ridge. The back of the handle is made from iron, and the front/top is made from horn. It is flared at the blade and has a smaller curved butt. The two parts are held together with an iron collar around the joint with the blade and with two iron bosses, which are riveted into the horn and iron. The sheath is curved and made from two carved pieces of wood. It is bound in leather and highly decorated with silver plated panels [they look like silver but are magnetic, possibly there is a later of iron underneath a layer of silver sheet] and ?silver bosses. The lower half is decorated with two large decorative bosses, shaped like flowers, two large undecorated bosses and three small undecorated bosses. The upper half and mouth of the sheath are decorated with sheets of ?silver/silver plate with impressed, or punched decoration. The pattern is an intricate geometric design. A smaller sheath is attached to the back of the main sheath. It is made of stitched leather. The leather carrying strap is attached around the front of the sheath. It is made from a wide piece of stitched leather and two smaller pieces. It has an iron buckle. The strap is decorated with three non ferrous chains which hang over the front of the sheath. [SM 07/06/2007]
Geographical reference: Ethiopia
Africa > Eastern Africa > Ethiopia
Cultural groups: Arab
Person: Field collector Robert Ernest Cheesman; PRM source Mrs R.J. Townsend-Coles
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1944?, uncertain
Date collected: 1914 - 1944 ?
Acquisition information: Donated: 1997
Materials and processes: Material Iron Metal, Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Animal Horn, Material Silver Metal, Process Forged (Metal), Process Carved, Process Bound, Process Punched, Process Stitched, Process Decorated
Dimensions: Width: max 117 mm sheath, Width: max 61 mm dagger, Length: max 310 mm dagger, Length: max 220 mm sheath
Object numbers: Accession number: 1997.42.24.1 Accession number: 1997.42.24.2

Search terms: Weapon, Tool, Transport and Travel, Knife, Sheath, Carrying Device, Dagger

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