My new Lao dha/daab Lan Xang kingdom

[Sajen]

Proudly I want to share with you my "new" Lao daab/dha from the Lan Xang area. I think that it is from the middle of 18th to middle 19th century. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lan_Xang
Ian has shown recently two similar dha in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19121
Enjoy the pictures from the seller. Like usual all comments are very welcome.

[Andrew]

Very nice! Congrats, Sajen.

One question--what leads you to your estimation of this sword's age?

[Ian]

Hello Detlef:

This certainly appears to have many of the features of an older Lao/northern Thailand daab. The hilt, although not especially long, is consistent with that origin and that particular style of rattan wrapping of a plain wooden scabbard is seen with Lao/Montagnard pieces. The blade shows a somewhat hatchet point, again consistent with Lao/Montagnard work.

Thank you also for the reference to the kingdoms of Lan Xang. I noted in particular the images of two excellent monuments to Lan Xang kings of the 14th C—King Fa Ngum and King Setthathirat—each of which is shown with a sword of similar style to the one you show. I have attached pictures from that web site of the statues and details of the swords they wear or hold.

Before we get too carried away with the possible age of your sword, however, we need to determine when these statues were made and for how long that style of sword was produced. This is clearly not a 300+ year old sword IMO. I am a little concerned about the shape of the blade, which narrows slightly as it passes from the hilt towards the tip and then widens. This feature is seen today on some swords from Thailand (especially northern Thailand) and in my experience is not found to any great degree on older Tai/Lao work. It does raise the possibility of a newer blade with an old Lao hilt. The blade has been cleaned extensively and it is hard to date it without a much closer inspection. To my eye, the hilt is the oldest piece of this daab.

Given these caveats, I think your daab could be mid- to late-19th C, possibly a little earlier, while the scabbard looks maybe late 19th C at the oldest (just judging from the patina on the rattan wrap and the fact that the rattan is still intact). There is a possibility that the daab could be a marriage of a more recent blade with an older hilt.

Pictures of the two statues of the kings are from the web site you quoted and show swords with relatively short handles that may or may not be correct for the period in which these two kings lived. The swords are definitely of Lao style, however, and are consistent with your recent purchase.

The first pictures relate to King Fa Ngum and the second set to King Setthathirat.

Ian.

[VANDOO]

A VERY NICE ONE WITH GOOD WEAR AND PATINA AND COMPLETE. CONGRATULATIONS. PERHAPS THE DAFIA WILL RISE AGAIN ON THE FORUM.

[Battara]

Congratulations Detlef! I actually considered this one, but didn't have the money and the blade gave me some pause.

Still a nice piece!

Am I correct in assuming that solid bronze hilts like this are older?

(and by the way, as mentioned years ago, I prefer "Dha Freaks" over "Dafia" )

[Rick]

The hilt is made of two pieces, Detlef ?

[Nathaniel]

Very nice Daab Lao, Sajen. Love to see pictures of the entire sword (Blade and handle) out of scabbard as the sellers pictures are just section of the blade, handle and scabbard.

I would agree extreme caution should be taken when looking at such statues....the whole statue, from the face, dress and swords are 20th century artists interpretations of 14th & 16 century kings....though they may pull from historical artifacts usually these are more recent 19th & 20th century examples.

Thanks for highlighting the Lao Laan Xaang Kingdom, Sajen. Laos has a very interesting and beautiful culture that is often overshadowed by it's neighbors.

Thanks for sharing

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Proudly I want to share with you my "new" Lao daab/dha from the Lan Xang area. I think that it is from the middle of 18th to middle 19th century. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lan_Xang
Ian has shown recently two similar dha in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19121
Enjoy the pictures from the seller. Like usual all comments are very welcome.

Hello Sagen
Very nice Dha ! I own one with a similar shape of hilt but from silver and copper.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15160

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Very nice! Congrats, Sajen.

One question--what leads you to your estimation of this sword's age?

Thank you Andrew. Have discussed the sword with a good friend who is a great expert for swords from mainland SEA, he seems to be sure that it is a 18thc sword. Second the age estimation from Ian in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19121 post #4. The wear of friction at the handle is a further point.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Before we get too carried away with the possible age of your sword, however, we need to determine when these statues were made and for how long that style of sword was produced. This is clearly not a 300+ year old sword IMO. I am a little concerned about the shape of the blade, which narrows slightly as it passes from the hilt towards the tip and then widens. This feature is seen today on some swords from Thailand (especially northern Thailand) and in my experience is not found to any great degree on older Tai/Lao work. It does raise the possibility of a newer blade with an old Lao hilt. The blade has been cleaned extensively and it is hard to date it without a much closer inspection. To my eye, the hilt is the oldest piece of this daab.

Given these caveats, I think your daab could be mid- to late-19th C, possibly a little earlier, while the scabbard looks maybe late 19th C at the oldest (just judging from the patina on the rattan wrap and the fact that the rattan is still intact). There is a possibility that the daab could be a marriage of a more recent blade with an older hilt.

Thank you Ian for your elaborate comment. The blade shape is for sure something what need to be observed. Of course could be there the possibility that the blade is of later manufacture. We will know more when I have received the sword and the blade has received a polish and etch. That the scabbard couldn't be old as the sword is clear but I am happy that it is complete and with this nice patina.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Barry and Jose,

thank you both for your kind words.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Rick

The hilt is made of two pieces, Detlef ?

Hello Rick,

yes it seems like this, I think this is not unusual.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Very nice Daab Lao, Sajen. Love to see pictures of the entire sword (Blade and handle) out of scabbard as the sellers pictures are just section of the blade, handle and scabbard.

I would agree extreme caution should be taken when looking at such statues....the whole statue, from the face, dress and swords are 20th century artists interpretations of 14th & 16 century kings....though they may pull from historical artifacts usually these are more recent 19th & 20th century examples.

Thanks for highlighting the Lao Laan Xaang Kingdom, Sajen. Laos has a very interesting and beautiful culture that is often overshadowed by it's neighbors.

Thanks for sharing

Thank you Nathaniel,

will post some pictures after I have received the daab.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

Hello Sagen
Very nice Dha ! I own one with a similar shape of hilt but from silver and copper.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15160

Hello Cerjak,

thank you as well. Like the others I believe that your sword is a Thai daab. A very nice one with good age, beautiful piece, congrats.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Thank you Andrew. Have discussed the sword with a good friend who is a great expert for swords from mainland SEA, he seems to be sure that it is a 18thc sword. Second the age estimation from Ian in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19121 post #4. The wear of friction at the handle is a further point.

Regards,
Detlef

Detlef:

In my previous post I was not really definite about the 18th C attribution. Here is what I said in the post you quote--please note the qualifying comment at the end:

"What makes this 18th C? The main feature here is the hilt which resembles Ayutthaya hilts of that period and earlier. The slim handle with an elongated lotus bud pommel and a bell-like flaring adjacent to the blade is very reminiscent of Ayutthaya daab found in Thai museums and dated to the 17th and 18th C. This daab also has a small guard--a feature more commonly found with Lao daab than Thai swords of the 18th and 19th C. All this said, it is possible that the sword could be of later manufacture (perhaps second half of the 19th C) but in a style harking back to an earlier period."

Andrew thinks that many of these daab are likely from the late 19th C. And I must agree that although the dealers' pictures I posted in the other thread showed swords made in an older style, they could have been manufactured more recently than the style would suggest.

You mention that your friend has some experience with SE Asian swords and has examined this daab. I would like to know the additional features that he found that would indicate a blade more than 200 years old. The pictures that you show from the dealer do not persuade me that this is such an old blade, so I would like to know what he found that convinced him of its age.

Regards,

Ian.

[Sajen]

Ian:

The age guess was given with a great range and by the presumtion that the blade is old like the handle and original. The chiseled tip of the blade is typical for daab of this origin like you mentioned also. Let's wait until I have the sword in my hands and can tell you more, all can change by closer inspection. Of course I have the hope that the sword is original in all parts with a later scabbard of course.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Since I've noticed a similar but much better and nicer example got sold recently I've remembered that I never have shown this sword after I've received it and it received some care so here you go.
84,5 cm inside scabbard
81,5 cm without
53,8 cm the blade

[Sajen]

And here, for our archives the recently sold but wrong described example. It was described as Vietnamese, possibly Sedang tribe.
In fact, to my knowledge, they come from the Attapeu province of Laos.

112 cm total
blade: 73 cm

[JeffS]

That didn't last long... beautiful sword.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by JeffS

That didn't last long... beautiful sword.

Yep, beautiful handle and scabbard and a very long blade!

[Ian]

Lovely example Detlef. Very well preserved sword and scabbard.

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Yep, beautiful handle and scabbard and a very long blade!

It's going to a good home.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Iain

It's going to a good home.

Hi Ian,

Glad you got it!

Regards,
Detlef

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

Glad you got it!

Regards,
Detlef

I have a soft spot for the long ones. I'll have to do a group picture with some other big ones as the size really is unusual, not just the length but also the spine.

[Iain]

For those curious to see it next to some other very large swords. Typical sized daab included for scale. Second image shows swords with the same hilting style.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Iain

For those curious to see it next to some other very large swords. Typical sized daab included for scale. Second image shows swords with the same hilting style.

Hi Ian,

You own some monster dha! And so much Attapeu dha at once, wow!

Regards,
Detlef

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Ian,

You own some monster dha! And so much Attapeu dha at once, wow!

Regards,
Detlef

Hi Detlef,

Thanks for your kind comment. I have always found unusual examples interesting and that includes large swords.

The attapeu swords are far more than just a sword style tied to one city or region but I have written about that on another platform.

Unfortunately I can't keep every piece I acquire for study but here's a few others I have been fortunate enough to own. For me these are a fascinating regional style.