Dagger in Crocodile Sheath
Fur, Sudan
Iron, wood, crocodile skin, monitor lizard skin, leather
Late 19th century
This knife comes from the territory of the former state of Darfur, one of the many Sultanates of 19th century Sudan, an area rich in iron ore. The Fur, who number 200,000, are the main culture in Darfur (Darfur simply means ‘land of the Fur’). The use of daggers in this region was very prominent (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).
The beautiful, extravagant sheath, decorated here with crocodile skin (ridged on the front, underbelly on the back), is characteristic of the flamboyant Sudanese aesthetic.
Mounted on a custom display stand, pictured below.
11 in :: 28 cm
InventoryID #13-1297
Not For Sale
