Dah for comment

JeffS · 5th June 2017, 06:07 AM

Hello,
I picked this up yesterday in Yangon. Any comments would be appreciated.
Thank you.

Ian · 5th June 2017, 05:28 PM

You have a Burmese dha probably from the second half of the 19th C or early 20th C. The koftgari work at forte, the widely fullered blade, and the tripartite hilt are typical Burmese work of that period. Your example appears to have some age to it and may be an early example of this style, which also includes the familiar story dha that employ the same koftgari technique on the blade. After about the 1920s these koftgari-decorated dha underwent a steady decline in the quality of materials and workmanship. Later versions had very poor quality blades, the koftgari work was more crudely executed, and repoussed brass hilts and scabbards were featured.

I have heard that many of this type of dha were made or sold in Rangoon (Yangon) to wealthy Burmese and British administrators, planters, and tourists. The fact that you picked it up in Yangon could be consistent with those accounts.

Nice dha. Congratulations on your find.

Ian.

Sajen · 6th June 2017, 05:17 PM

Hello Dizos,

agree with everything Ian has written! Very nice Burmese dha!

Regards,
Detlef

Gavin Nugent · 7th June 2017, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

You have a Burmese dha probably from the second half of the 19th C or early 20th C. The koftgari work at forte, the widely fullered blade, and the tripartite hilt are typical Burmese work of that period. Your example appears to have some age to it and may be an early example of this style, which also includes the familiar story dha that employ the same koftgari technique on the blade. After about the 1920s these koftgari-decorated dha underwent a steady decline in the quality of materials and workmanship. Later versions had very poor quality blades, the koftgari work was more crudely executed, and repoussed brass hilts and scabbards were featured.

I have heard that many of this type of dha were made or sold in Rangoon (Yangon) to wealthy Burmese and British administrators, planters, and tourists. The fact that you picked it up in Yangon could be consistent with those accounts.

Nice dha. Congratulations on your find.

Ian.

A fair assessment Ian. First half of the 20th century would be my guess from the photos.

It does need to be added, that the "decline" in quality is not always true and each Dah must be looked at in context.
Quality and purity in dress and blade type did continue past WWII.

Gavin

CharlesS · 7th June 2017, 12:17 PM

I especially like the quality of the blade on your nice find. Congrats!

Ian · 7th June 2017, 10:12 PM

Dizos,

I should have also added that the scabbard is not entirely Burmese, which would have had a cord baldric wrapped around the throat. The scalloped fittings on the scabbard suggest a Chinese influence and the suspension ring could reflect Chinese or European traits--these features are found also on some other dha of this type. The brass mounted scabbard and hilt might well be early 20th C. work, as Gavin suggests.

Ian.

JeffS · 8th June 2017, 08:41 AM

Thank you for the valuable information.

5th June 2017, 06:07 AM	#1
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 342	Dah for comment Hello, I picked this up yesterday in Yangon. Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you. Attached Images

5th June 2017, 05:28 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	You have a Burmese dha probably from the second half of the 19th C or early 20th C. The koftgari work at forte, the widely fullered blade, and the tripartite hilt are typical Burmese work of that period. Your example appears to have some age to it and may be an early example of this style, which also includes the familiar story dha that employ the same koftgari technique on the blade. After about the 1920s these koftgari-decorated dha underwent a steady decline in the quality of materials and workmanship. Later versions had very poor quality blades, the koftgari work was more crudely executed, and repoussed brass hilts and scabbards were featured. I have heard that many of this type of dha were made or sold in Rangoon (Yangon) to wealthy Burmese and British administrators, planters, and tourists. The fact that you picked it up in Yangon could be consistent with those accounts. Nice dha. Congratulations on your find. Ian.

6th June 2017, 05:17 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,769	Hello Dizos, agree with everything Ian has written! Very nice Burmese dha! Regards, Detlef

7th June 2017, 12:17 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	I especially like the quality of the blade on your nice find. Congrats!

7th June 2017, 10:12 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	Dizos, I should have also added that the scabbard is not entirely Burmese, which would have had a cord baldric wrapped around the throat. The scalloped fittings on the scabbard suggest a Chinese influence and the suspension ring could reflect Chinese or European traits--these features are found also on some other dha of this type. The brass mounted scabbard and hilt might well be early 20th C. work, as Gavin suggests. Ian.

8th June 2017, 08:41 AM	#7
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 342	Thank you for the valuable information.