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Leather case

Satchel
18th century (made), 19th century (made)
Place of origin
Ethiopia (made)

Leather carrying case consisting of inflexible rectangular container with flap, fitting inside a stitched leather pouch. Inner container has strap inside for ease of removing manuscript. Long leather handle for carrying.
The manuscript it was made to contain is MSL/1869/185/1.

Object details

Categories
National Art Library
Africa
Christianity
Object type
Satchel
TitleLeather case
Materials and techniques
Leather
Brief description
Satchel, leather carrying case for a Psalter with canticles, Song of Songs and praises of the Virgin Mary, Northern Ethiopia, 18th or 19th century.
Physical description
Leather carrying case consisting of inflexible rectangular container with flap, fitting inside a stitched leather pouch. Inner container has strap inside for ease of removing manuscript. Long leather handle for carrying.
The manuscript it was made to contain is MSL/1869/185/1.
Gallery label
(5 April 2018 - 30 June 2019)
Maqdala 1868 display, 5 April 2018 - 30 June 2019

Ethiopian manuscripts ｜ የኢትዮጵያ እጅ ጽሁፍ

Ethiopia (ኢትዮጵያ) is one of the world’s first Christian nations. The Kingdom of Aksum (አክሱም) in northern Ethiopia adopted the religion in around AD 330. These manuscripts are written in Ge’ez, the sacred language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The books contain prayers and hymns, while the protective scroll would have hung above its owner’s bed to ward off diseases and evil spirits. The manuscripts were first taken from the city of Gondar by Emperor Tewodros, who planned to build his own church at Maqdala. They were among the artefacts later seized by the British.

Service book and carrying-case ｜ የአገልግሎት መጸሀፍና ማህደር

Probably made in Gondar (ጎንደር), Ethiopia, 1700–1800

Parchment, with leather carrying-case

Purchased from W.H. Saunders

NAL: MSL/1869/185

At my church, the prayer book is written in Ge’ez and Amharic, and both are read by the Father. The beauty of handwritten words on handmade paper is not lost through age. I benefit from these long traditions that have served many Ethiopian generations.
- Almaz Tesfaye, V&A Estates Services, member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Sacred texts of Ethiopia date back to the 4th century AD, painstakingly transcribed and illuminated by monks and religious scholars on goatskin parchment. Some still exist today, unseen by public eyes in remote monasteries and churches of the ancient realm.

- Shango Baku, Rastafari actor, writer and activist
Association
Siege of Maqdala
Associated object
38041800153454 (Object)
Other numbers
  • Drawer 26 (e) - NAL Pressmark
  • 38041800156218 - NAL barcode
Collection
National Art Library
Library number
MSL/1869/185/2

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Record createdSeptember 4, 2017
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1410928/leather-case-satchel/
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