EXTRAORDINARY MAHDIST LANCER’S SPEAR

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.  They are the only examples we have offered in 44 years and we have never seen another fully mounted example on the market.  The picture, right, shows a display from the same group, mostly reduced in length for aesthetics, in the Palace Hall,  Khartoum, in 1936. 

115 1/4” length.  Tapered natural cane haft with forged iron base shoe.  Huge (21” total) leaf shaped head with medial ridge, chamfered cutting edges and indented top conical socket.  The head varnished with bright finish showing through and some very sparsely scattered isolated pits, perhaps from forging, showing through.

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