Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22
Abyssinian Exhibit at National Museum

sliding drawers. The bracelets are broa
curved bands of massive silver. which
open with hinge and are secured by
pins and loops. These also show many
odd designs in filigree. Gold is notably
absent in all of the varied assortment of
ornaments, likewise jewels.
The specimens of hasketry. with their
vivid coloring and beautiful work. hold
the attention of even the most casual
observer. IN embroidered lat is the
most striking. 1t would turn an Indian
green with envy with its brilliant hues
The hat is of a sailor shape. fourteen
inches in diameter and four inches high,
and consists of palm mid rib cooled and
covered inside and out with greca, vel
low. red and black floss silk in the most
brilliant shades. There are no pastel
shades in the color scheme of AbysSinian
art. Everything is intensely alive,
vivid and startling. The hat was made
and embroidered in basket stitch
Another beautiful specimen of bas-
kerry. which was tie property of a mill
tary official of high rank. is unique in
the extreme. 1t is Ii inches high. 30
inches in diameter and composed OF
small coils ii straw held together wit
loosely twined splint. The coloTs are
purple. green and yellow interviewer with
yellow in attractive design. The work is
similar bat superior TO that Of the Hopi
Indians of Arizona. the only North
American tribe whose basketry alone i
like that Of Northern Africa. This has
ket is provided with Shield-shaped lid.
capacious body, morocco bound edges
and rests upon foot 1t il recep, acle
for the crushed corn and milet of which
the bread of the nation is made.
The superb embossed shield Of buffalo
hide ana silver used by the cavalry of
this land is a beautiful example of their
metal work. 1t is morocco leather lined.
bcarin" Eoorietric designs. and is ORA
men.ed with repouSSe silver, having ores
cent-shaped and triangular openings. The
Plates are applied with und-headei
tacks. An engraved cap marks the CEN
ter. and a large leather-coVered handle
passes through the body of the shield.
1t is equipped with all the necessary loops
and straps and is over twenty inches in
diameter.
Another queer hit of silver work is the
ecclesiastical crown or inter of very
ancient design. These are now worn by
the high priests on state occasions ami
are very rare and difficult to obtain. This
crown is compo sed of bands pl&-es
pron@s, bells, chains and loops all bear
crosses are very old. They represent va
riOuS materials. bronze. pewter. brass and
silver They are chiefly finished by file
and by scraping. and show little variety
in the decoration.
OF all the ornaments the scabbard
mountinSS seem most elaborate. The
design is combination of punching and
engraving and carries out a complete
idea, instead of just dots and circles. The
AbySsinian sword is of Scimitar shape
the sea bbard is of leather. covered with
velvet, and the grip Of rhinoceros horn.
Among the miscellaneous oddities are
a bangle. decora ted tweeZers case of ham
mered silver which is suspended from
the neck by two silver chains The
tweeZers are supposed to be always car
ried to remove thornS.
Silver filigree ornaments for the staff
or crutch of the priests and a beaten
silver food strainer in saucer form and
size. with punched perforations, said to
have been the property OF former king
find place in this group of objects.
Besides these there are quaint drinking
cups, some turned from single piece of
rhnoceros horn, which are usually the