What: An “interesting small collection” from Ethiopia and the 1868 Abyssinian Campaign. No details of items.
Where: The National Museum of Ireland
“In terms of numbers … the sub-Saharan African collection is quite modest, between three thousand and four thousand objects. Of these roughly one third are from Ghana. Other countries well represented are the former British colonies of Sierra Leone, Nigeria (the latter unevenly), and South Africa. East Africa fares less well by comparison. Of non-British territories, there are interesting small collections from Zaire, Madagascar, and Ethiopia, and scattered objects commemorate British military involvement in various parts of Africa (the Abyssinia campaign of 1868, the battles of Tofrik in 1885 and Omdurman in 1898).“
Hart, W. (1995). African Art in the National Museum of Ireland. African Arts, 28(2), 35-91. doi:10.2307/3337224
“Our database shows c 37 items that are linked to Abyssinia. They entered the NMI collections in the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries. They include swords, belts, daggers and other items.
“Some were transferred from the Royal Dublin Society, others donated by former military men or purchased by the Museum from individuals.”
Email from Dr Edith Andrees, Curator of Silver and Metalwork, Numismatics, Scientific Instruments 04/02/2021