Large Silver Dha/Daab/Darb for Comment

[Nathaniel]

Originally Posted by Battara

Mil Gracia Espada Ancha! Lots of chasing work all over the piece!

Nathaniel, which tribe or people would this have belonged?

Jingpo is the chinese name. Kachin is the Burmese name. They live in India, Burma and China.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingpo_people

[laEspadaAncha]

Hi Nathaniel,

While the decorative work does match that ID'd as Kachin in the thread to which you provided a link above, doesn't the blade in your opinion speak to a more likely Karen or Shan origin (as per Ian, Mark and Andrew's article written for the Macao exhibit catalog)? The spine is peaked at the forte, which as per the article is more common to Shan (style) blades. Also, wouldn't it seem odd to present a visiting foreign dignitary with a gift from an area relatively remote from the historical seat of Thai power and influence? Or is there a more prevalent sense of cross-cultural identity that blurs the lines between historically divergent ethnic groups and the stylistic differences as they appear in their respective traditional weaponry?

[Nathaniel]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Hi Nathaniel,

While the decorative work does match that ID'd as Kachin in the thread to which you provided a link above, doesn't the blade in your opinion speak to a more likely Karen or Shan origin (as per Ian, Mark and Andrew's article written for the Macao exhibit catalog)? The spine is peaked at the forte, which as per the article is more common to Shan (style) blades. Also, wouldn't it seem odd to present a visiting foreign dignitary with a gift from an area relatively remote from the historical seat of Thai power and influence? Or is there a more prevalent sense of cross-cultural identity that blurs the lines between historically divergent ethnic groups and the stylistic differences as they appear in their respective traditional weaponry?

LaEspanaAncha,

I went back a reread the HOS article and looked at a few books and I am mistaken to say Kachin. Shan style does seem to be more likely to fit the bill!! So northern Thailand could be included since the Shan Burmese where frequently trading, fighting and living there as well. As you mentioned there are frequently a mixing of different groups and styles of weapons.

But as you say does seem rather curious that the king of Thailand would give a sword of northern style versus a more central Thai style which would be more of the norm for Bangkok. Or rather during the 1960's the swords more commonly given by HRM would be more of the European ceremonial military dress saber or dagger with the elephant head pommel. HRM during that time period would have been still active in handing out these sabers to all academy graduates of five branches of the Thai Military (Navy, Police, Air Force, Marine & Army). A Thai style European saber would be more of the common type sword I would think the King would given a visiting dignitary/ representative.

[laEspadaAncha]

Hi Nathaniel,

There were actually quite a few honorary gifts, including a large (2+ feet), stunning gold (gilt? plated? solid?) traditional Thai long boat in a glass and hardwood display case, a letter from HRM bestowing upon him an honorary title (Grand Knight?) in a Thai chivalric order (Order of the White Elephant) along with a medal and a sword, several other medals, the dha, another letter, and a photograph signed and including a note. Several of the items (including the dha, the honorary title, and possibly other items?) were actually bestowed upon him by a high-ranking official in the government (Minister of Defense IIRC) by order of HRM.

There were other gifts from both heads of state and high-level foreign dignitaries from several other nations, including the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, and other Pacific Rim nations with whom we maintained good diplomatic relations during the height of the Cold War. In each case, the gifts (with the exception of the medals and the honorary title) were consistently representative of their respective countries' cultures.

Regards,

Chris

[Nathaniel]

Chris,

Thanks for the additional detail information... fascinating. Reminds me of this book:

Treasures of Two Nations: Thai Royal Gifts to the United States of America by Lisa McQuail, (published in 1997 by: Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560-0112, USA)

http://www.mnh.si.edu/treasures/frameset_bookorders.htm