Help ID modern Dha(?) with carved ivory handle

bernard_levine · 29th November 2006, 06:29 AM

Hello folks

"Newbie" here. (New here, anyway).

I've been asked to ID and maybe even appraise this evidently well made but oddly impractical seeming knife.
It appears to be a recent souvenir, but of high quality. It has lost its scabbard.

The owner tested the blade with a magnet, and it did not stick.
He suspects it is bronze, or perhaps patinated brass.
I don't know.

I asked a collector of Javanese and Malayan edged weapons,
and he said it is probably not from there.
He said Burma might be a possibility, as the ferrule shape is reminiscent of a Dha,
and there is quite a bit of commercial ivory carving done in Burma now.

For example see picture 33 here.

http://www.asianart.com/articles/ivory/index.html

* * *

So... do you recognize it? Seen something similar on your travels? Have a guesstimate of value?

Thanks!

BRL...

www.knife-expert.com

29th November 2006, 06:29 AM	#1
bernard_levine Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2	Help ID modern Dha(?) with carved ivory handle Hello folks "Newbie" here. (New here, anyway). I've been asked to ID and maybe even appraise this evidently well made but oddly impractical seeming knife. It appears to be a recent souvenir, but of high quality. It has lost its scabbard. The owner tested the blade with a magnet, and it did not stick. He suspects it is bronze, or perhaps patinated brass. I don't know. I asked a collector of Javanese and Malayan edged weapons, and he said it is probably not from there. He said Burma might be a possibility, as the ferrule shape is reminiscent of a Dha, and there is quite a bit of commercial ivory carving done in Burma now. For example see picture 33 here. http://www.asianart.com/articles/ivory/index.html * * * So... do you recognize it? Seen something similar on your travels? Have a guesstimate of value? Thanks! BRL... www.knife-expert.com