mikemiller1955
Lieutenant General
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2008
- Messages
- 17,492
I noticed what seems to be a difference in the size of the spear heads and the length of the spears in the Wm. Brit Mahdist and the JJD's Mahdist...
the JJD's seem bigger...much bigger to me...but I only have pictures to look at...and I don't own any Wm. Brits...
can someone who owns both JJD's and Brit's comment on this...it's hard to tell in the Wm. Brit pictures because of the glare and the angle...
if you will look at the black and white photo...the spears on the wall look HUGE!!!
at least 9 feet with a monstrous head on them...
this article says the heads are almost 2 feet long...
The Mad Mahdi and the Sudanese War of 1885-98
In 1881 Islamic fundamentalist and religious scholar Mohammed Ahmed declared himself Mahdi, redeemer of Islam and raised an army to purify the Sudan of infidels. The Mahdi’s followers were largely equipped with their respective indigenous weapons and costume.
His elite troops were the Bagharras, mounted lancers who wore the patchwork jibba and carried huge spears know as shalaziehs.
***Based in form on traditional Sudanese spears, they were nearly twice as large and relate specifically to the Sudan campaign of 1885-98.***
They were considered to be talismanic, possessing magical protective powers. Items #733-737 are original Mahdist shalaziehs from the collection of the Haggerty Museum of Art, Milwaukee. These were undoubtedly captured at the Battle of Omdurman where 52,000 Sudanese troops suffered losses of 9700 killed, 13,000 wounded and 5000 captured. The heads are preserved in heavy varnish, probably applied in the Sudan by British troops.
***114 1/4” length with huge 23 1/2” head in heavy varnish showing some superficial darkening beneath, but crisp original finish. Short edge crack as made.***
if this is right...they were 9 1/2 feet long and the head was 2 feet long...
that's one GIANT SPEAR HEAD!!!
http://***anarms.com/extraordinarymahdistlancersspear-3.aspx
the JJD's seem bigger...much bigger to me...but I only have pictures to look at...and I don't own any Wm. Brits...
can someone who owns both JJD's and Brit's comment on this...it's hard to tell in the Wm. Brit pictures because of the glare and the angle...
if you will look at the black and white photo...the spears on the wall look HUGE!!!
at least 9 feet with a monstrous head on them...
this article says the heads are almost 2 feet long...
The Mad Mahdi and the Sudanese War of 1885-98
In 1881 Islamic fundamentalist and religious scholar Mohammed Ahmed declared himself Mahdi, redeemer of Islam and raised an army to purify the Sudan of infidels. The Mahdi’s followers were largely equipped with their respective indigenous weapons and costume.
His elite troops were the Bagharras, mounted lancers who wore the patchwork jibba and carried huge spears know as shalaziehs.
***Based in form on traditional Sudanese spears, they were nearly twice as large and relate specifically to the Sudan campaign of 1885-98.***
They were considered to be talismanic, possessing magical protective powers. Items #733-737 are original Mahdist shalaziehs from the collection of the Haggerty Museum of Art, Milwaukee. These were undoubtedly captured at the Battle of Omdurman where 52,000 Sudanese troops suffered losses of 9700 killed, 13,000 wounded and 5000 captured. The heads are preserved in heavy varnish, probably applied in the Sudan by British troops.
***114 1/4” length with huge 23 1/2” head in heavy varnish showing some superficial darkening beneath, but crisp original finish. Short edge crack as made.***
if this is right...they were 9 1/2 feet long and the head was 2 feet long...
that's one GIANT SPEAR HEAD!!!
http://***anarms.com/extraordinarymahdistlancersspear-3.aspx
