antique burmese dha sword burma - knife myanmar dagger asian oriental

Likely a colonial British bringback from Burma during the period 1900 to 1930 and made in the Burma proper as it was known to colonial British.
Made in typical Mandalay style this single handed use dha sword is in fantastic condition for its age, when found it was coated in a layer of thick palm oil that kept is blade in very good condition for many years sheathed and tucked away, there was no rust at all which has left the blade in pristine condition and still very sharp.

The blade has a thick flat spine which along its length turns into a top v ridged false edge, on the spine and along its top edge it is inlaid with silver koftgari designs, on each side of the blade at the forte and meeting with the hollow forged fuller there are inlay silver koftgari scroll and floral designs, these are in real silver.As with many of these middle range dha this one was made for use and not just for ceremonial use as many of the top high end ones in silver and ivory were, many different bronze alloys in silver colour through to pink and golden yellow were used in the making of these middle range dha which can be seen in this one, the hilt is made from one of these types of mixed yellow alloy bronzes with copper wire twist and infilled lacquer, the pommel tube on this one has a flat end filled with black lacquer and likely never had a pommel.
The front inset guard plate is made from steel, and the scabbard and mounts are made from 2 pieces of Burmese hardwood which maybe yintike wood, it is purple brown in colour with white metal silver alloy mounts, none of the mounts are missing which is often the case with these old dha, everything including its cord in Khaki green cotton is intact. I would suggest that this and the other dha that came with it ( which will is for sale here also) were from the same maker and whoever collected them bought them new and brought them back to uk where they likely were stored in original purchased condition as they really are both very very exceptionally well looked after pieces.

Antiques.co.uk Ref: XJY2REBYU

Maker/Artist:

Burmese maker Mandalay colonial period

Materials:

steel bronze alloy silver copper wood cotton and lacquer

Width (cm):

3.5cm

Height (cm):

83cm in scabbard, blade 61.5cm, spine thickness at hilt end is 8.5mm

Depth (cm):

3.5cm

Please note that this price may NOT include delivery charges which the seller may charge extra for.

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