Darfia Copper Alloy question

[Gavin Nugent]

A question for the Darfia;

The old Thai Daarb attached has a nice scabbard covered in a copper alloy that shines like silver in some lights and copper in other lights and has a definate copper hue.

Whilst copper alloys have been around since ancient times...see Wiki; Copper is often alloyed with precious metals like silver and gold, to create, for example, Corinthian bronze, hepatizon, tumbaga and shakudo.)

There is no mention in the Wiki text on copper alloys that are native to SEA which leads me to ask, what is the native Thai term for such a mixed alloy as presented in the image attached.

Gav

[kronckew]

suassa? certainly used on indonesian/malay stuff....


It's 25% gold, 19% silver and 56% copper.

Forum linky (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5181)

[Battara]

SE Asia has had a long history of alloys. Silver and copper, brass (zinc and copper), bronze (tin and copper), white metal (nickel and copper), and as Kronckew says, swassa (roughly gold and copper). These goes back centuries.

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks guys,

I deliberately left Suassa out of my initial comments knowing it is found on some of my Sumatran pieces and has the typical gold/copper hue... this piece pre dates them by about 150 years, is from Another region and has a copper/ silver hue.
Do the Dhafia purists refer to this sheath covering as Suassa? By another name?? Or is the term for this alloy unknown?

Gav

[Battara]

Suassa has gold involved. If it is a silver/copper alloy it is not suassa.

[Gavin Nugent]

Interesting note, reading a previous thread on the ole Thai swords, it was noted in one posting that copper was one of the mediums worn by people of rank. Any further ideas on what rank a person had to be to display this material in such a manner?

Any takers on the copper silver alloy naming or other usage.

Gav

[Nathaniel]

Interesting note, reading a previous thread on the ole Thai swords, it was noted in one posting that copper was one of the mediums worn by people of rank. Any further ideas on what rank a person had to be to display this material in such a manner?

Any takers on the copper silver alloy naming or other usage.

Gav


Interesting Gav, can you cite the thread regarding the copper & rank?

I do not doubt it. I've seen with some Thai swords a copper, brass or gold disk/ or small tsuba.

[Nathaniel]

Electrum = Naturally occurring silver & gold alloy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrum

List of Alloys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alloys

There are different hues of gold...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored_gold

[Gavin Nugent]

Electrum = Naturally occurring silver & gold alloy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrum

List of Alloys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alloys

There are different hues of gold...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored_gold

Thanks Nathaniel,

Following your links further I came to this one;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billon_(alloy)

It explains a mixture of both materials and its ancient roots.

Thanks

Gav

[Andrew]

No idea what that alloy would be called, Gav, but that sword is sweet! :cool:

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks Andrew and Merry Christmas to all.

Gav

[PUFF]

Gold-Copper alloy is called "Naak" (นาก) in Thai.
The composition may varied, higher quality "Naak" may contain up to 60% gold.
I 'm not sure if silver always included.

By tradition, the material used by wealthy peasant class as Gold metal is reserved for royal class and silver is for lord/high rank officer or other similar classes. The tradition was, however, faded out around C19.

[Gavin Nugent]

Thank you for dropping in Puff.

You information adds an interesting dimension to the sword.

cheers


Gav