Prestige Knife, Sai
Nuer-Berta or Egyptian, in the style of the Ingessana, Sudan (Kordofan)
Forged iron, wood, leather, crocodile skin
Late 19th century, likely 1871

This knife, known as sai, ‘the snake,’ was found predominantly among the Ingessana people of the Blue Nile province, but also among the Nuba of Kordofan and the Nuer-Berta who lived south of the Ingessana.

While this piece fits the description of a throwing knife in every way, this blade type, modeled after throwing knives, was not intended for use as such. In addition to being too heavy and large for throwing, most owners of this expensive type wouldn't “likely have risked theirs getting lost in this way,” as they were potent symbols of manhood. Being an item of such high prestige, these fabulous weapons would have been used more often for such jobs as cutting grass than for any war-like purpose. One scholar described the sai as a ‘conceptual prop,’ in that its overall design and the particular arrangement of the incisions reflected not only man’s relationship with the natural world but also the reconciliation of opposing elements within himself. This type of analysis offers a far greater insight into the function of throwing knives, more so than describing their describing their aerodynamic qualities or utilitarian characteristics.   

This sai is unusual in that it is much smaller than most comparable examples, and it is composed of extremely high-quality iron. It was offered at auction alongside another small sai, both with an unusual detail: an inscription in Arabic. The two inscriptions were translated as:

This knife: SENJAWE (likely a name)

The other knife: SENHAWE (likely a name), and the common era date 1871 expressed in Arabic numerals.

Both knives were small for this type, composed of high-quality iron, and decorated with very similar crocodile skin handles. Two exceedingly rare knives with the same idiosyncrasies coming from the same collection strongly suggests that they were collected together.

But another important detail is that the Ingessana were fiercely independent, and spoke the Gaam language, which is distinct from Arabic. Ingessana blades were also not labeled with names and dates, and the Arabic inscription strongly suggests this blade is not of Ingessana origin. Perhaps this blade originates from the Nuer-Berta, whose language was Arabic. It could also be an object commissioned to commemorate a battle or skirmish of Egyptian origin, composed of high-quality Egyptian iron. Another detail suggesting this was a commemorative piece are the initials Y.I., incised on the in the same location as the Arabic inscription, but on the opposite side of the blade (Spring, African Arms and Armor, 1993; Westerdijk, African Metal Implements, 1984; Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988). 

Published: Lefebvre, Luc. The Throwing Knives: The Northern Knives. 2019. Plate 130.

27.5 in :: 80 cm

InventoryID #13-1203

SOLD