The Prince and the Plunder

A book on how Britain took one boy and piles of treasures from Ethiopia

Category: The Plunder

Queen Sabazadis’ necklace

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

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

Posted In Royal regalia | Said to belong to the queen | The Plunder
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Finial in shape of Coptic cross ‘taken from Magdala’

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

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

Posted In Crosses | Sacred artefacts | The Plunder
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Coptic Cross finial ‘obtained from an Abyssinian soldier at Magdala’

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

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

Posted In Crosses | Sacred artefacts | The Plunder
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Emperor’s shield collected by Speedy

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A shield said to belong to Emperor Tewodros and “collected” on the expedition by intelligence officer Captain Speedy.

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

Status: Strong link through museum description

Photo: The British Museum

The catalogue entry includes a picture and describes a “composite shield, circular, of leather with elaborate metal ornamentation all over the front”. It adds: “Said to be King Theodore’s shield. See also Af1912,0410.28.”

Details
Museum number Af1939,09.1
Height: 51 cm
Width: 51 cm
Depth: 15 cm
Acquisition notes Collected by Capt.T.C.Speedy in Abyssinia during British Expedition, 1867-68.
Donated by: Mrs Henry Perrin Previous owner/ex-collection: Tewodros II, Emperor of Ethiopia Previous owner/ex-collection: Capt Tristram C S Speedy
Acquisition date: 1939

Posted In Military | Said to belong to Tewodros | Shields | Strong link to Maqdala | The Plunder
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Theodore’s sword and scabbard

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A hunting sword and scabbard, said to belong to the emperor, presented to Major-General Sinclair by Queen Victoria

Where: The Royal Armouries Collection, Armouries Dr, Leeds LS10 1LT

The database entry includes close-up photos, showing an engraving that reads: “The sword of King Theodore of Abyssinia Presented to Major-General Sinclair R.A.M.C. by Her Majesty Queen Victoria”.

Bibliographic References
F. Wilkinson, ‘A royal sword?’, Royal Armouriesd Yearbook, 4, 199, pp. 80-85, incl. fig. 2 (sword and scabbard, overall), figs 3, 4 & 5 (dets resp. of maker’s name, blade and inscription on scabbard locket).

Details:
Date: 1831-1870
Object Number: IX.1291

Provenance
Transferred from Hove Museum 3 April 1956.

Other Ethiopian items in the collection that are not specifically labelled as coming from Magdala:

Posted In Military | Said to belong to Tewodros | The Plunder | Weapons
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