Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 16th October 2018, 03:16 AM   #1
Hotspur
Member
 
Hotspur's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Nipmuc USA
Posts: 481
Default Burmese Festival Dha or Tourista?

Feeling froggy the other day and found one of these at a fair wallhanging price. Having done some reading here and hitting the regular links
http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/Intro...1Main_Page.htm
http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/Decor...me1Source1.htm
the overlay on the blades was well described and we can see these quite regular examples with less care taken to the margins than others.

I came across a sibling to the one inbound here and I will be able to tell if it is plated brass, or other alloy. Here, a completed auction
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item...tory-dha-sword

The decoration most identical to the auction piece and also with a 30" blade. The butterflies leading to spirits and capturing or retaining souls? Nats new to me but I am still reading. These seem huge! At 47", I can see why the seller's shipping cost reflects that size.

I guess my questions remain two-fold. Why the differences between round or more blossomed would be one. Secondly whether these were meant at all for general local consumption, or entirely market pieces? Mostly, I am curious about the pommel differences. The spiritual mythology and interesting study I'll be reading more about. Kind of like a native American dream catcher, or medicine wheel.

Cheers
GC
Attached Images
            
Hotspur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th October 2018, 06:59 AM   #2
Ian
Vikingsword Staff
 
Ian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,008
Default

Hi hotspur:

The examples you describe and show are 20th C. versions of more valuable, older swords. The hilts and scabbards on the 20th C. examples are covered with copper alloy sheets (in yellow or white metal) that have been embossed with various traditional designs--the chiseling and repousse work can be quite good on some of these, but often they are low-medium grade work at best. The blades are almost always poor quality and not hardened, with koftgari work that is rather rough and low quality compared with older examples. These 20th C. versions are purely decorative items IMHO. The examples from the early part of the 20th C. (1920s and 1930s) seem better quality than later, while post WWII versions seem to be particularly poor.

Quote:
Why the differences between round or more blossomed would be one.
I'm assuming you mean the pommel shapes here. These are representations of lotus buds, the lotus being of sacred importance in Buddhist traditions. AFAIK these are just stylistic differences.

Quote:
Secondly whether these were meant at all for general local consumption, or entirely market pieces?
I expect the market was both domestic consumption and for foreign tourists.

Look forward to seeing your new acquisition.

Ian.
Ian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th October 2018, 05:01 PM   #3
Hotspur
Member
 
Hotspur's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Nipmuc USA
Posts: 481
Default

I've attached a pdf regarding some of the mythology and particularly the butterflies pertain to to the symbology. The sheet metal is indeed plated brass and the scabbard six sections of sheet joined as a tube. The design embossed is actually quite expertly joined in matching the patterns at the seam. Much like doing wallpaper. The six butterflies per side quite well centered as well, which is a good trick considering the taper of the scabbard is not uniform. The whole is indeed four feet long, which makes for a rather imposing presence.

Cheers
GC
Attached Images
File Type: pdf burma.pdf (497.5 KB, 524 views)
Hotspur is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:05 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.