A COMPARATIVE STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF AN 'ARABIAN DAGGER' FROM THE DITSONG NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CULTURAL HISTORY, SOUTH AFRICA

The Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History in Pretoria, South Africa, plays host to thousands of objects of cultural and historical significance from across the world. While most objects and artefacts originate from within South Africa and form part of the natural, archaeological, historical, and military history collections, the museum also boasts selected objects of international origin. Among these are armours on permanent loan from the Tower of London Museum, and objects that were donated to the museum over the years by private collectors. Of these, a small collection of ancient Egyptian bronze statuettes, a Samurai helmet (kabuto) and mask (menpo), a European gauntlet, and an Arabian dagger (jambiya/khanjar) were investigated non-destructively through surface microscopy and microfocus X-ray computed tomography. In addition to technical analyses, the objects were investigated through comparative stylistic analyses to establish more precise relative dates. This article focuses on the comparative stylistic analysis of the 'Arabian Dagger', of which the Ditsong Museum's records were sparse about its age, origins, and possible area of manufacture. Based upon stylistic comparisons, it is suggested that the dagger be categorised as an Arab Omani Al Saidi khanjar, with a production date varying between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.