SABERS AND SOME ETHNIC WEAPONS IN SPANISH MUSEUM

Marc · 7th November 2005, 06:22 PM

Translation:

"Burmese Dhar [Translation Note: nevermind the spelling, there isn't a truly fixed form for the name of this kind of weapon in Spanish]:

Total Length: 865mm.

Blade length: 530mm.

Materials: Steel, wood, silver, cotton.

Inventory Number: 25.071.

Hilt made in wood with a lathed shape and provided with an important pommel that resembles a turban. The whole ensemble is covered with silver sheet and finely worked. The grip is divided in two sections, one of which is in turn covered by a woven wire mesh.

This type of sabre lacks a guard, and features a steel blade of curved lines. It features a rounded spine in the inside and a full edge in the outside [Translation Note: this description of the edge and spine is a direct translation of the technical way blades are described in Spanish. Among other things, sabre blades are described as having an "outside", where the main edge is, and an "inside", where the secondary edge and/or the spine is. I left it this way because I think it's clear enough]

The sheath is wood, covered of silver sheet with different decorations, and features a green cotton cord for carrying slung in the belt

The Dhar is the characteristic weapon of Burma"

Additionally, let me add a couple of things about this description and the others in the site... I know some of the people involved in the redaction of the catalogue of this exhibition. While the description of the military weapons is generally spot on, the data regarding some of the more ... "ethnographic" items is... well, less reliable. Descriptions are OK, but I wouldn't use the geographical and chronological data of the ethnographic items for anything else than a "general approximation".
The descriptions were done by different individuals, from different backgrounds, that's why no consistency, in one way or another, can be found. So it's better to exert some prudence.

In their discharge I have to say that because of logistic reasons they had to use what little data was available at that time at the Museum and had no chance to properly research the more "exotic" items. On the whole, given the conditions in which this exhibition was done, the final result, included the fact that it’s actually in the net, is, believe me, no less than spectacular...

Marc · 7th November 2005, 06:29 PM

Oops... well, three translations for the price of one.

Just ask if there's something any of you, gentlemen, wants to see clarified.

Andrew · 7th November 2005, 06:33 PM

Muchas gracias, mi hermanos. Mi Espanol es muy mal.

Battara · 8th November 2005, 05:12 AM

Mil gracias, tambien. Mi vocabolario no es bien (lo siento mucho

).

Muchos museums no saben espadas ethnographias.

(Many museums don't know about ethnographic swords).

Marc · 8th November 2005, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Mil gracias, tambien. Mi vocabolario no es bien (lo siento mucho

).

Muchos museums no saben espadas ethnographias.

(Many museums don't know about ethnographic swords).

Not at the level of this forum, that's unquestionable.
You know... I'm not that sure if people is really aware of how valuable and rare the combined knowledge, direct or indirect, that one can find here truly is.

Hence, the result: we're spoiled.

Well, at least I know I am: now when I see, for example, a bladed weapon from the Philippines in a museum I feel a strange disappointment when it's not classified within a plus/minus 25-years period and, of course, attributed to at least, a tribe.
Knowledge is such a funny thing...

Battara · 8th November 2005, 10:16 AM

Very glad we can be of some service.

That is one of the biggest reasons why I joined the forum a few years ago (that and all of the good opportunities to joke and make puns without getting shot

).

jmings · 8th November 2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc

<snip>
Knowledge is such a funny thing...

The more I know, the more I know that I don't know.

7th November 2005, 06:22 PM	#1
Marc Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Madrid / Barcelona Posts: 256	Translation: "Burmese Dhar [Translation Note: nevermind the spelling, there isn't a truly fixed form for the name of this kind of weapon in Spanish]: Total Length: 865mm. Blade length: 530mm. Materials: Steel, wood, silver, cotton. Inventory Number: 25.071. Hilt made in wood with a lathed shape and provided with an important pommel that resembles a turban. The whole ensemble is covered with silver sheet and finely worked. The grip is divided in two sections, one of which is in turn covered by a woven wire mesh. This type of sabre lacks a guard, and features a steel blade of curved lines. It features a rounded spine in the inside and a full edge in the outside [Translation Note: this description of the edge and spine is a direct translation of the technical way blades are described in Spanish. Among other things, sabre blades are described as having an "outside", where the main edge is, and an "inside", where the secondary edge and/or the spine is. I left it this way because I think it's clear enough] The sheath is wood, covered of silver sheet with different decorations, and features a green cotton cord for carrying slung in the belt The Dhar is the characteristic weapon of Burma" Additionally, let me add a couple of things about this description and the others in the site... I know some of the people involved in the redaction of the catalogue of this exhibition. While the description of the military weapons is generally spot on, the data regarding some of the more ... "ethnographic" items is... well, less reliable. Descriptions are OK, but I wouldn't use the geographical and chronological data of the ethnographic items for anything else than a "general approximation". The descriptions were done by different individuals, from different backgrounds, that's why no consistency, in one way or another, can be found. So it's better to exert some prudence. In their discharge I have to say that because of logistic reasons they had to use what little data was available at that time at the Museum and had no chance to properly research the more "exotic" items. On the whole, given the conditions in which this exhibition was done, the final result, included the fact that it’s actually in the net, is, believe me, no less than spectacular... Last edited by Marc; 7th November 2005 at 06:33 PM. Reason: Spelling, what else... sigh...

7th November 2005, 06:29 PM	#2
Marc Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Madrid / Barcelona Posts: 256	Oops... well, three translations for the price of one. Just ask if there's something any of you, gentlemen, wants to see clarified.

7th November 2005, 06:33 PM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Muchas gracias, mi hermanos. Mi Espanol es muy mal.

8th November 2005, 05:12 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	Mil gracias, tambien. Mi vocabolario no es bien (lo siento mucho ). Muchos museums no saben espadas ethnographias. (Many museums don't know about ethnographic swords).

8th November 2005, 10:16 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	Very glad we can be of some service. That is one of the biggest reasons why I joined the forum a few years ago (that and all of the good opportunities to joke and make puns without getting shot ).