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Sword (Kaskara)

hilt, late 19th century; blade, 1848–96
Not on view
Straight-bladed swords with cruciform guards and disk-shaped pommels, known as kaskaras, are typical of the Sahara region, particularly Sudan. While the hilt of this example was locally made, the fine blade of crucible (“watered”) steel is Iranian and bears the name of Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar, who ruled Iran from 1848 to 1896. This sword was taken as booty by the British general James Grenfell Maxwell at the battle of Omdurman, during the Mahdi uprising in Sudan, on September 2, 1898.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sword (Kaskara)
  • Date: hilt, late 19th century; blade, 1848–96
  • Culture: hilt, Sudanese; blade, Iranian
  • Medium: Steel, copper alloy, wood, leather, gold
  • Dimensions: L. 40 1/2 in. (103 cm); L. of blade 34 11/16 in. (88 cm); W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 14 oz. (1304.1 g)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1977
  • Object Number: 1977.162.1
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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