Dating a Nice Pia Kaetta

derek · 7th July 2007, 03:03 PM

Hi Charles,

That's a great piha, very complete. Based on the quality work it would almost have to have been made by the Pattal Hattara in Kandy (the king's royal workshops). They were not around long after the British took over. I would date it a little older, probably very early 1800's.

That's a beauty, a really good find.

-d

www.pihakaetta.com for some more info.

CharlesS · 8th July 2007, 11:47 PM

Great web site. Thanks for the reference, and your info regarding the pia kaetta.

derek · 12th July 2007, 03:47 AM

Slightly changing the topic, there is a piha currently offered at Lion's Gate with a very old hand written label that calls it a "pihiye", along with the phrase "Sinhalese hunter's knife".

That's interesting to me, because it supports Mr. Mohan Daniel's assertion (he owns the Serendib Gallery in Colombo) that simply "pihiya" (his spelling) is the correct general name for these knives. He explained that "da kaetta" is a different, sickle-shaped type of work knife. The term piha kaetta was something of an oxymoron to his Sinhalese ear. I think the term piha kaetta is officially stuck in the west and there's no hope of changing it, but it was probably a slight error on the part of Mr. Stone.

-d

CharlesS · 12th July 2007, 01:03 PM

....this may go into the heap of weapons 'misnomers'...and there are many.

Very interesting!

7th July 2007, 03:03 PM	#1
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Charles, That's a great piha, very complete. Based on the quality work it would almost have to have been made by the Pattal Hattara in Kandy (the king's royal workshops). They were not around long after the British took over. I would date it a little older, probably very early 1800's. That's a beauty, a really good find. -d www.pihakaetta.com for some more info.

8th July 2007, 11:47 PM	#2
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Great web site. Thanks for the reference, and your info regarding the pia kaetta.

12th July 2007, 03:47 AM	#3
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Slightly changing the topic, there is a piha currently offered at Lion's Gate with a very old hand written label that calls it a "pihiye", along with the phrase "Sinhalese hunter's knife". That's interesting to me, because it supports Mr. Mohan Daniel's assertion (he owns the Serendib Gallery in Colombo) that simply "pihiya" (his spelling) is the correct general name for these knives. He explained that "da kaetta" is a different, sickle-shaped type of work knife. The term piha kaetta was something of an oxymoron to his Sinhalese ear. I think the term piha kaetta is officially stuck in the west and there's no hope of changing it, but it was probably a slight error on the part of Mr. Stone. -d

12th July 2007, 01:03 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	....this may go into the heap of weapons 'misnomers'...and there are many. Very interesting!