Sudanese
Dagger and Sheath, 19th century
Steel dagger with crocodile skin and leather sheath, 31.4 x 2.7 cm (12 3/8 x 1 1/16 in.)
The dagger and sheath are positioned with the point of the dagger pointing to our left. The dagger has a straight steel blade and what appears to be a leather handle. The sheath is made of mostly crocodile skin with a dark leather section in the center. The sheath has a rope handle facing to our right and a carved leather end cover to our left.
Vatichino
Commentary
The Gardners traveled to Egypt in 1874, during which time Isabella Stewart Gardner and her husband Jack acquired many of the Egyptian artifacts that are sprinkled throughout the Museum’s galleries. The highlight of their trip was sailing on the Nile for five months. Not to let her time away from shore slow down her collecting, Isabella purchased this weapon from a man she met on the river who was wearing it.
This dagger is one of many weapons in the Vatichino. The small space also holds knives from India and Sweden, and a Samurai sword once owned by the Jiu-Jitsu expert Uchimura Tengan.
This dagger is one of many weapons in the Vatichino. The small space also holds knives from India and Sweden, and a Samurai sword once owned by the Jiu-Jitsu expert Uchimura Tengan.