SE Asia Knife # 2

lordkoos · 7th July 2012, 05:54 PM

Second one of a group of five knives, this is about 9" / 22 cm long in the scabbard, the hilt is carved ivory in the shape of an elephant figure, Ganesha. Definitely Thai, there is inscription on the blade in the Pai Buddhist script so I'm sure another monk knife. I think the scabbard is teak, with silver bands.

Nathaniel · 12th July 2012, 03:24 AM

Interesting...scabbard bands...quite plain...well done...thought.

Nathaniel · 12th July 2012, 03:31 AM

Note how the elephant, Lord Genesh has his hand on his right tusk...he will break this off and use it to write with. Genesh is the god of learning and remover of obsicals. ie I would soften see some of my Indian friends praying to him especially before college exams

lordkoos · 17th July 2012, 05:11 AM

Thanks for the post, I wondered about that. Ganesha figures are usually portrayed with the right tusk already broken off, one source I found says "one of the Puranic legends tells how Ganesha fought with the demon Gajamukha, and defeated him by breaking off his right tusk and hurling it at the demon".

Nathaniel · 7th September 2012, 01:49 AM

Also interesting is that you found this in the north as this is a southern blade....

Battara · 7th September 2012, 03:25 AM

Nice piece. Great to learn more about Ganesha.

Like the unique silver work bands.

lordkoos · 8th September 2012, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Also interesting is that you found this in the north as this is a southern blade....

Are you sure? I know the kris blades are definitely from the south, but I see knives with this blade shape fairly often around here, I saw a crude wooden handled one with this blade shape at the flea market just last week, it was quite old looking. Unlike this one it was not a ceremonial knife, just a tool.

7th July 2012, 05:54 PM	#1
lordkoos Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 22	SE Asia Knife # 2 Second one of a group of five knives, this is about 9" / 22 cm long in the scabbard, the hilt is carved ivory in the shape of an elephant figure, Ganesha. Definitely Thai, there is inscription on the blade in the Pai Buddhist script so I'm sure another monk knife. I think the scabbard is teak, with silver bands. Attached Images

12th July 2012, 03:24 AM	#2
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Interesting...scabbard bands...quite plain...well done...thought.

12th July 2012, 03:31 AM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Note how the elephant, Lord Genesh has his hand on his right tusk...he will break this off and use it to write with. Genesh is the god of learning and remover of obsicals. ie I would soften see some of my Indian friends praying to him especially before college exams

17th July 2012, 05:11 AM	#4
lordkoos Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 22	Thanks for the post, I wondered about that. Ganesha figures are usually portrayed with the right tusk already broken off, one source I found says "one of the Puranic legends tells how Ganesha fought with the demon Gajamukha, and defeated him by breaking off his right tusk and hurling it at the demon".

7th September 2012, 01:49 AM	#5
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Also interesting is that you found this in the north as this is a southern blade....

7th September 2012, 03:25 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	Nice piece. Great to learn more about Ganesha. Like the unique silver work bands.