Bird dha

Mark · 3rd April 2007, 08:04 PM

What do people make of the bird-shaped dha, such as the one shown in Stone's glossary, and this one from Artzi's site (there is another for sale on another site, but policy prevents me from posting a link)?

Tim Simmons · 3rd April 2007, 09:10 PM

I wish I knew more, I do not think they are old 1930s at the most. The construction is consistent with many dha short swords of that time. I am sure these are not functioning knives. I should imagine they were made and bought for some reason.

CharlesS · 3rd April 2007, 11:29 PM

Though I acknowledge they are a legitimate dha form, and apparently have been around for some time (witness Stone's notation on them), asthetically, I am just not a fan of this type. Though it surely may not be, if gives off the impression of a "tourist piece" more then any other legit weapon I know of.

Hope I didn't offend anyone...just my opinion.

~Alaung_Hpaya~ · 4th April 2007, 12:32 PM

I have acquired one of these recently ( the one on the other site that Mark is referring to ) because it is an oddity . I concur that this is a dha and of Burmese provenance but probably not ethnic Bama ( not central belt anyway ) .

I will post some pictures once I have taken them . The length is about 27" with the blade being of fairly heavy contruction with an almost full length fuller and a shorter one nearer the spine . The hilt is black horn and the fittings around the hardwood ( possibly teak ) scabbard are brass. A faded thick orange/red cord cord wraps the proximal scabbard in an identical style to that done on other Burmese pieces. Although I have not personally seen this kind of dha before I have seen similar carved horn in the shape of a bird's head but inverted to form the body of a hand catapult ( the bane of authority and the choice of children : the other popular weapon in Burma

)

Currently I'm in the process of trying to get information from other Burmese sources about the age and manufacture of these . G C Stones pictures are 1930s so we can be sure that they are at least that old.

So far I have gathered that they may be ceremonial and used by an indigenous minority as a status symbol by a tribe who worship or hold particular significance to a pair of mythical birds . The only minority I'm aware of who believe that they descended from mythical Kinnari are the Padaung ( giraffe necked women ). Mainly the response is ," I've never seen one of these before" .

Here are a few pictures from Mark's site ( I'm sure he won't mind ) of dha of similar shape :

Tim Simmons · 4th April 2007, 01:22 PM

Just thought I would add this dha knife well more of a dagger really. The blade is only 23cm long. I have seen the same decortation on swords. looking at the blade I think there is some age here.

Tim Simmons · 4th April 2007, 08:36 PM

Compere this to the first knife shown from Mark's site with the carved ivory handle. The blade is a twin but the rest is quite different. Interesting?

3rd April 2007, 08:04 PM	#1
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Bird dha What do people make of the bird-shaped dha, such as the one shown in Stone's glossary, and this one from Artzi's site (there is another for sale on another site, but policy prevents me from posting a link)?

4th April 2007, 12:32 PM	#4
~Alaung_Hpaya~ Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 65	I have acquired one of these recently ( the one on the other site that Mark is referring to ) because it is an oddity . I concur that this is a dha and of Burmese provenance but probably not ethnic Bama ( not central belt anyway ) . I will post some pictures once I have taken them . The length is about 27" with the blade being of fairly heavy contruction with an almost full length fuller and a shorter one nearer the spine . The hilt is black horn and the fittings around the hardwood ( possibly teak ) scabbard are brass. A faded thick orange/red cord cord wraps the proximal scabbard in an identical style to that done on other Burmese pieces. Although I have not personally seen this kind of dha before I have seen similar carved horn in the shape of a bird's head but inverted to form the body of a hand catapult ( the bane of authority and the choice of children : the other popular weapon in Burma ) Currently I'm in the process of trying to get information from other Burmese sources about the age and manufacture of these . G C Stones pictures are 1930s so we can be sure that they are at least that old. So far I have gathered that they may be ceremonial and used by an indigenous minority as a status symbol by a tribe who worship or hold particular significance to a pair of mythical birds . The only minority I'm aware of who believe that they descended from mythical Kinnari are the Padaung ( giraffe necked women ). Mainly the response is ," I've never seen one of these before" . Here are a few pictures from Mark's site ( I'm sure he won't mind ) of dha of similar shape : Attached Images

3rd April 2007, 09:10 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	I wish I knew more, I do not think they are old 1930s at the most. The construction is consistent with many dha short swords of that time. I am sure these are not functioning knives. I should imagine they were made and bought for some reason.

3rd April 2007, 11:29 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Though I acknowledge they are a legitimate dha form, and apparently have been around for some time (witness Stone's notation on them), asthetically, I am just not a fan of this type. Though it surely may not be, if gives off the impression of a "tourist piece" more then any other legit weapon I know of. Hope I didn't offend anyone...just my opinion.

4th April 2007, 01:22 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	Just thought I would add this dha knife well more of a dagger really. The blade is only 23cm long. I have seen the same decortation on swords. looking at the blade I think there is some age here.

4th April 2007, 08:36 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	Compere this to the first knife shown from Mark's site with the carved ivory handle. The blade is a twin but the rest is quite different. Interesting?