Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ian · 14th November 2006, 01:48 PM

Hi Cedric:

Good to see another dha fancier on the forum.

Lovely carved hilts. All of these appear to be Burmese in origin, or at least in the Burmese style. Many of these hilts are also given a provenance of "hill tribe" -- indicating they may be from the NE area of Burma, traditionally a Shan region but with other ethnic groups as well.

I don't think all of these examples are necessarily Shan or from that area. I have not seen this form of intricate ivory carving, which resembles Chinese carving in style (sometimes with a figure inside the network of vines and leaves), on Thai, Lao or Cambodian knives and swords.

The Shan were originally from China and were forced south in the 13-14th C., so a link to traditional Chinese ivory carving would make sense.

Ian.

14th November 2006, 01:48 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,363	Hi Cedric: Good to see another dha fancier on the forum. Lovely carved hilts. All of these appear to be Burmese in origin, or at least in the Burmese style. Many of these hilts are also given a provenance of "hill tribe" -- indicating they may be from the NE area of Burma, traditionally a Shan region but with other ethnic groups as well. I don't think all of these examples are necessarily Shan or from that area. I have not seen this form of intricate ivory carving, which resembles Chinese carving in style (sometimes with a figure inside the network of vines and leaves), on Thai, Lao or Cambodian knives and swords. The Shan were originally from China and were forced south in the 13-14th C., so a link to traditional Chinese ivory carving would make sense. Ian.