A Burmese dha with silver and copper koftgari

[Mark]

Here is another recent acquisition. The grip is ivory, and the pommel and ferruler are iron, which has been roughened to accept silver and copper koftgari (that really is not the right term, but the only other one I can think of is applique, which sounds like you are talking about clothing). The blade has very elaborate and detailed vegetal motifs, again in silver with copper accents. There is writing inlaid on the spine (anyone read Burmese?), and really fine koftgari next to it, and along the false edge. The blade is in excellent shape, though it has been bent and re-straighted so it is a bit warped. The scabbard is a bit worn, and is held together with bands of braided copper and silver wire that has been hammer flat. Sorry for the poor photography on these -- the weather was bad and the light worse, but I couldn't wait any longer to share.

[cylord21]

Nice, interesting and uncommon decoration on hilt and blade. Wood on scabbard has differences in color, do you think decoration is original to the sword ?. Not much to say, my mind still on the 1798 dha.

[Andrew]

Another fantastic sword! Congrats again, Mark. I'm turning various shades of green now...

We really do need to find someone who can read Burmese. Between the dha guys on this forum, we probably have dozens of swords with inscriptions that might shed some light on age, provenance, etc.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by cylord21

Nice, interesting and uncommon decoration on hilt and blade. Wood on scabbard has differences in color, do you think decoration is original to the sword ?. Not much to say, my mind still on the 1798 dha.

The scabbard may well be a replacement, since stuff rots pretty quickly in that climate, and it has a different style than the blade. I think there was an attempt to match the theme, at least, with the silver-copper combination. The difference in color is wear. The darker color is the original finish, and the lighter areas are where it has been rubbed away by handling and movement of the bands. Once I find a way to gently remove the chape (the ferrule is loose, but slightly tapered tappered so I can't slight things off the other way), I plan to restore it to an even finish.

[RhysMichael]

I can only echo Andrew's envy. Another great sword. I have never seen the style of inlay on this one before. And if the scabbard is a replacement it is certainly nice work. The blade on this one looks as if it were made to use. How does it feel in your hand ? I'll bet it has a "live" natural feel. Again congratulations

[Ian]

and I wish I had bid on it. The blade is a dandy, and the silver work is remarkably crisp.

Someone has had an early Christmas

Ian.

[Battara]

Nice puppy, and the technical word used among silversmiths and shop talk is.....inlay.

[~Alaung_Hpaya~]

Originally Posted by Mark

Here is another recent acquisition. The grip is ivory, and the pommel and ferruler are iron, which has been roughened to accept silver and copper koftgari (that really is not the right term, but the only other one I can think of is applique, which sounds like you are talking about clothing). The blade has very elaborate and detailed vegetal motifs, again in silver with copper accents. There is writing inlaid on the spine (anyone read Burmese?), and really fine koftgari next to it, and along the false edge. The blade is in excellent shape, though it has been bent and re-straighted so it is a bit warped. The scabbard is a bit worn, and is held together with bands of braided copper and silver wire that has been hammer flat. Sorry for the poor photography on these -- the weather was bad and the light worse, but I couldn't wait any longer to share.

It says " saya ? or sha bo let ya " . ( I think the Saya Bo must be the name of the sword maker. Let ya means hand print = handy work of ... )

[Mark]

Thanks so much for the translation! It is interesting that the name "Bo" ("po") appears, as I have seen it on a couple other swords, but with the word "maung." I assumed it was the name of a village, but could it also be a person's name, Maung Bo?

[~Alaung_Hpaya~]

Originally Posted by Mark

Thanks so much for the translation! It is interesting that the name "Bo" ("po") appears, as I have seen it on a couple other swords, but with the word "maung." I assumed it was the name of a village, but could it also be a person's name, Maung Bo?

Maung = means younger brother ( more specifically when a woman refers to a younger male relative or indeed to a younger man ) It is also an informal title / honorifc adopted by younger Burmese men either when they address others or are themselves being addressed .


Bo= means leader is also an honorific


Confusingly honorifics are also used as parts of names whether formally or informally .

Also confusing is the Burmese habit of refering the same person by different honorifics and pet / nicknames .


eg Alaung Hpaya could be
U Aung Zeya
Ko Aung Zeya
Maung Aung Zeya
Bo Aung Zeya
Saya
Bo Gyi
maung maung
Ko Ko
Ko Zeya
Nyi Nyi
Tha Pouk

Alaung Hpaya itself is the popular "nickname " for the king ( Hpaya is derived from pali and means roughly "lord" - it has the same root as the Thai term Phra )


Placing two honorifics together is not unusual but in this case sounds clumsy.


Maung Bo would only make sense if the full name was for example Bo Let-Ya . Then he would be known by older people as Maung Bo Let-Ya . However it is most unlikely that Maung would be used on a sword or other inscription as a man is promoted to Ko ( meaning elder brother ) and subsequently to U ( meaning uncle ) with age ( no real rules but usually Ko by your twenties to everyone but older relatives and U in your thirties )

Bo Maung makes more sense . It is possible that Bo is the honorific and Maung is the name ( not uncommon especially in days bygone to have 1 syllable names )


Maung Bo as a place name is possible but again it seems more likley if the adjective was more descriptively elaborate ( eg Mokso Bo Ywa where U Aung Zeya originated lit. Widower Leader Village was changed to Shwe Bo Myo = Golden Leader Town )


Can you show me some pics ?

[Mark]

I had the one inscription wrong - it does indeed have three names. I can't find my translation of the second, so I might be mis-remembering it as well.

[~Alaung_Hpaya~]

Originally Posted by Mark

I had the one inscription wrong - it does indeed have three names. I can't find my translation of the second, so I might be mis-remembering it as well.

Maung Bo Thein is definitely a person's name ( Burmese has three tones and one variant . The Bo in that name is the third long tone like in "it's soooo not true ... " or "go " whereas Bo in leader is the middle tone like when one pronounces the letter "o" ) Bo means geat grand father or perhaps just grand . How old is that sword . The combination of syllables would hint a a name which would have been popular at the turn of the last century 1900s - 1930s . If the sword maker / owner is still alive he would be at least in his seventies .

Not sure why it is written Po in english the consonant used is definately ba a hard "b".


The second sword bears the name Maung Ba : again an old fashioned name .