Mahdist period C.1880. 21" length. Iron head with tapered, elegantly recurved back spike and crescent form bit. Iron spear point above and iron ferrule below. Matching iron ferrule to the butt. The bit decorated in panels of thuluth calligraphy and central panels bordered in bass bands and decorated in silver koftgari, mostly intact one side and weak opposite. The fore spike and back spike base with hatched decoration. Iron with frosty brown patina throughout. The haft encased in the Nile crocodile skin. Skin slightly shrunk as expected. Wonderful age character.
