A beautiful Burmese dha dated 1798

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Ian

Let me make a suggestion. The Burmese "story dha" is actually a production of the Shan craftsmen in eastern Burma, drawing on indigenous Shan and Tai/Lao traditional silver work, with the lotus bud pommel and segmented scabbard being features of those areas, along with repoussed silver work on the scabbards.

From what understand there is some truth to this statement in some respects, the truth of the matter though, is that it is Burmese silverware, made in Burma.

To better contextualise the Burmese craft of the period that these repousse Burmese swords were made, and including reference to known Shan import silverware with influences from as far away as Thailand in Burmese work, I refer to Joseph Cohen's dialogue on Tilley's publication.

http://www.josephcohenantiques.com/s...-silversmiths/
http://www.josephcohenantiques.com/s...iption-plates/
http://www.josephcohenantiques.com/s...ptions-plates/

I think this is a very fine representation of the Shan style silverwork;
http://www.josephcohenantiques.com/c...urmese-beaker/

Originally Posted by Ian

There is a precedent for the production of prestigious swords by the Shan for other ethnic groups in Burma. The last example you cite from Mark's site is a silver dha in the Shan style but which Mark labeled as Kachin. That designation was made because there are several published photographs of prominent Kachin leaders bearing just this type of sword in processions and other Kachin ceremonies (see attachment). Does that make it Kachin or is it always Shan?

The BIG spanner to throw in to the mix here is that Yunnan sword smiths have also been making this sword type for a very long time and well in to the 20th century including the making of other countries knives too, from what direction did the sword in the newspaper come from...a study for another day.

Regarding what constitutes a story Dah, I agree totally...it then just runs from presentation grade to market grade.