Large Silver Dha/Daab/Darb for Comment

laEspadaAncha · 8th March 2011, 04:16 AM

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 · 8th March 2011, 05:18 AM

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

8th March 2011, 04:16 AM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	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

8th March 2011, 05:18 AM	#2
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	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