Asymmetric Prestige Blade
Fur (Mahdiyah), Sudan (Darfur)
Forged iron, textile, woven lead, leather
1880 - 1900

This blade type is a perfect example of the Sudanese aesthetic, because it is completely distinctive from any weapon from any other culture or time period in world history.

Westerdijk describes this style as being one that was "obviously never intended to serve any utilitarian purpose as weapons or tools," and is best described as "nonpractical. where fantasy and impracticality seem to have taken over from utility."

There are numerous hypotheses about the purpose of these blades, such as for ceremony (Westerdijk claims "their function must be sought to lie in the ceremonial field"), or possibly for sale as the earliest souvenir types, but regrettably, historical information is extremely scarce, if not completely absent, and so we are left to infer meaning from what little data we have. The weaponry of the Nuba of southeastern Kordofan, who inhabit the mountains of the same name, is purely ceremonial.

Most specimens of this type were obtained in either Egypt or the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, chiefly during the last two decades of the 19th century (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

A relevant note here, Westerdijk mentioned how "the shining surface is often cleaned of iron scale by means of a file, which has left clear marks on the iron." While this piece is in excellent condition, it certainly bears such filing marks. The transposition of the central axis is a highlight, not found on every example.

Mounted on a custom display stand, pictured below. 

19.75 in. :: 50 cm

InventoryID #13-1215

Not For Sale