Dagger in Sheath with Silver Utensil
Ingessana, Sudan
Iron, wood, ivory, monitor skin, imported silver
Late 19th century

The Ingessana, also called the Gaam, number 20,000 and live in eastern Sudan, along the southern edge of the Tabi Mountains. Like many Ingessana blades, this knife depicts a scorpion and a monitor lizard, kwir.

A nineteenth century plate metal helmet with chain mail fringe from the Darfur Province of Sudan was illustrated in African Arms and Armor. Welded to the helmet’s top is a set of European cutlery – forks and spoons – which demonstrates the perceived intangible potency of such imported objects (Elsen, De fer et de fierté, 2003; Spring, African Arms and Armor, 1993; Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988). Helmet photo © The Trustees of the British Museum.

10.5 in :: 26.5 cm

InventoryID #13-1598

Not For Sale