What: Cloth fragments
Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT
The database entry describes two textile fragments “captured at the fall of Magdala, 1868 (c)”.
Details
Crafts 1964-03-7
Theodore’s hair and letter in National Army Museum
Database entry: Framed letter bearing the great seal of King Theodore and a lock of his hair taken after death, 1868 (c).
This lock of hair was taken from the body of the Coptic Christian King of Abyssinia, Tewodros II (or Theodore) following his defeat and subsequent suicide. The king had seized a number of European hostages and in April 1868 Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier’s army stormed his stronghold at Magdala to rescue the hostages.
NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1959-10-71-1
Copyright/Ownership
National Army Museum Copyright
Location
National Army Museum, Army gallery
Object URL
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1959-10-71-1
What: An Ethiopian Orthodox cross – possibly taken from the top of a church
Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT
This is possibly a cross from the top of an Ethiopian Orthodox church – there is no image in the database and it is not on show.
The database entry describes: a “Coptic Cross finial, 1868 (c); Abyssinian iron cross with trefoil lozenge points to cross, cut from sheet metal, with cylindrical stem and rectangular flange at bottom and lower terminal trefoil as on arms; obtained from an Abyssinian soldier at Magdala”.
Detail
1959-10-76
What: A finial in the shape of an Ethiopian orthodox cross
Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT
This is possibly a cross from the top of an Ethiopian Orthodox church – there is no image in the database and it is not on show.
The database entry describes a “Finial, 1868 (c); brass openwork sheetmetal, in the shape of a Coptic Cross, with lozenge profile, taken from Magdala during the Abyssinian Campaign (1868).
Detail
Crafts 1957-02-34
What: Necklace belonged to “Queen Sabazadis”, described as the emperor’s wife
Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT
The database entry describes a “necklace, 1868 (c); belonged to Queen Sabazadis, the wife of King Theodore of Abyssinia; owned by Lt C F James, Bombay Staff Corps and possibly 2nd (The Queen’s Royal) Regiment of Foot; leather, crystal, silver, glass and brass beads, threaded on string; associated with Abyssinia (1868).
Detail
1959-10-79
What: A hide bracelet
Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT
The database entry describes a “bracelet, 1868 (c); associated with Sir Charles Fraser; hide wrist ornament, circular piece, bearing strips of the original black hair, with white on this strip of hide, threaded through a strap of raw hide with holes at the end; associated with Abyssinia (1868)”.
Detail
1965-04-46