CARVED IVORY DHA/ PRIESTS KNIFE HANDLES

VANDOO · 20th January 2011, 06:23 AM

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF CARVEING PERHAPS WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE THAI OR BURMESE. THE CARVING STYLES ARE SIMULAR AND NO DOUBT HAVE CHANGED WITH TIME AS WELL AS BY TRIBE AND REGION. THE FIRST PICTURE IS HANUMAN, THE NEXT TWO ARE OF A NORTHERN THAI PRIESTS KNIFE. UNFORTUNATELY i DON'T HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION.

Battara · 20th January 2011, 08:57 AM

What makes these priest knives and why?

VANDOO · 20th January 2011, 11:26 PM

WHAT LITTLE I KNOW I GOT FROM POSTS BY THE DHAFIA GUYS AND IN SOME POST THEY AGREED THESE KNIVES OF THAT SIZE WITH FANCY CARVED HANDLES WERE PRIESTS KNIVES. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE JUST A SYMBOL OF OFFICE OR RANK FOR PRIESTS OR IF THEY SERVE A FUNCTION BUT THEY ARE COOL LOOKING.

PERHAPS OTHER PEOPLE MAY CARRY THEM AS WELL

HOPEFULLY SOME OF THOSE MORE KNOWLEGABLE WILL GIVE US THE ANSWERS. I HAVE MORE PICTURES OF OTHER EXAMPLES BUT THE FILE SIZE IS TOO LARGE AND I DON'T HAVE SOFTWARE TO DOWNSIZE.

Sajen · 20th January 2011, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

I HAVE MORE PICTURES OF OTHER EXAMPLES BUT THE FILE SIZE IS TOO LARGE AND I DON'T HAVE SOFTWARE TO DOWNSIZE.

Google for this, there is a lot of free software available, I use for example VSO Image Resizer.

Regards,

Detlef

Battara · 21st January 2011, 12:50 AM

Barry, try the free www.photobucket.com

Nathaniel · 21st January 2011, 04:40 AM

Yes, Vandoo(Barry) try Photobucket...that is what I use and I shot with a 6.1 & a 16 MP camera.

Nathaniel · 21st January 2011, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

WHAT LITTLE I KNOW I GOT FROM POSTS BY THE DHAFIA GUYS AND IN SOME POST THEY AGREED THESE KNIVES OF THAT SIZE WITH FANCY CARVED HANDLES WERE PRIESTS KNIVES. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE JUST A SYMBOL OF OFFICE OR RANK FOR PRIESTS OR IF THEY SERVE A FUNCTION BUT THEY ARE COOL LOOKING.

PERHAPS OTHER PEOPLE MAY CARRY THEM AS WELL

HOPEFULLY SOME OF THOSE MORE KNOWLEGABLE WILL GIVE US THE ANSWERS. I HAVE MORE PICTURES OF OTHER EXAMPLES BUT THE FILE SIZE IS TOO LARGE AND I DON'T HAVE SOFTWARE TO DOWNSIZE.

meed maw: (Thai) blessed or talismanic knife, carried as a protective talisman ("priest knife").

Source: http://dharesearch.bowditch.us/Gloss...me1Source1.htm

Nathaniel · 21st January 2011, 05:15 AM

I do not really know anything about Burmese knives (such as the above), but when I think of Priest/ Monks knives I think of these style Thai blessed knives... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5162

Also see at the bottom of this series of pictures the Monk's looking at these type knives: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...10&postcount=8

Here is also another great thread I pulled out of the archives is:
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002295.html

The most valuable are those who are blessed by well know/ famous Buddhist Monks.

In this sense these type of special blessed knives are considered "amulets"

If you search on ebay, "Thai Knife" in addition to fruit carving knives, you will see priest/ lucky knives which can be as small as 1-3 inches and of course much larger full size knives.

VANDOO · 22nd January 2011, 05:40 AM

HERE ARE TWO MORE I HAVE RESIZED SUCESSFULLY I UPLOADED PHOTO SOFTWARE YOU RECOMENDED THANKS

BUT AM STILL LEARNING HOW TO USE IT. WHEN I GET IT FIGURED OUT I WILL ADD A FEW MORE.

Nathaniel · 23rd January 2011, 08:59 PM

Beautiful carvings....

Here is a more related link I posted recently on another thread that is related:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=11

Nathaniel · 23rd January 2011, 09:00 PM

Specifically this comments by Mark:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...57&postcount=8

Nathaniel · 23rd January 2011, 09:11 PM

Barry, My feeling is that most of these ivory handle carving are Burmese

Here is an interesting article I found online about Ivory carving in Myanmar
http://www.asianart.com/articles/ivory/index.html

Nathaniel · 23rd January 2011, 09:33 PM

Monograph on Ivory Carving in Burma (1901) by Henry Sheldon Pratt

http://ia700306.us.archive.org/25/it...00pratrich.pdf

Battara · 24th January 2011, 12:21 AM

Thanks Nathaniel, very helpful.

Battara · 26th March 2011, 05:23 AM

Another question: doe it matter if the hilt is made of ivory or bone?

Nathaniel · 26th March 2011, 05:26 AM

Hmmm...I don't know...I would imagine of Ivory is more prestigious. I'm sure though too there might be fakes made of bone or simulated material.

Atlantia · 28th March 2011, 07:27 PM

Great thread, beautiful examples.

Sorry about the poor pictures. I have this one on its way to me soon, length is 9cm.
Any thoughts?

Sajen · 28th March 2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Great thread, beautiful examples.

Sorry about the poor pictures. I have this one on its way to me soon, length is 9cm.
Any thoughts?

This look more like a recent keris handle from bone either from Madura or the North coast from Java.

Regards,

Detlef

Atlantia · 28th March 2011, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

This look more like a recent keris handle from bone either from Madura or the North coast from Java.

Regards,

Detlef

Thank you Detlef

20th January 2011, 06:23 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CARVED IVORY DHA/ PRIESTS KNIFE HANDLES HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF CARVEING PERHAPS WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE THAI OR BURMESE. THE CARVING STYLES ARE SIMULAR AND NO DOUBT HAVE CHANGED WITH TIME AS WELL AS BY TRIBE AND REGION. THE FIRST PICTURE IS HANUMAN, THE NEXT TWO ARE OF A NORTHERN THAI PRIESTS KNIFE. UNFORTUNATELY i DON'T HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION. Attached Images

22nd January 2011, 05:40 AM	#9
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE ARE TWO MORE I HAVE RESIZED SUCESSFULLY I UPLOADED PHOTO SOFTWARE YOU RECOMENDED THANKS BUT AM STILL LEARNING HOW TO USE IT. WHEN I GET IT FIGURED OUT I WILL ADD A FEW MORE. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 22nd January 2011 at 06:11 AM.

20th January 2011, 08:57 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	What makes these priest knives and why?

20th January 2011, 11:26 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WHAT LITTLE I KNOW I GOT FROM POSTS BY THE DHAFIA GUYS AND IN SOME POST THEY AGREED THESE KNIVES OF THAT SIZE WITH FANCY CARVED HANDLES WERE PRIESTS KNIVES. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE JUST A SYMBOL OF OFFICE OR RANK FOR PRIESTS OR IF THEY SERVE A FUNCTION BUT THEY ARE COOL LOOKING. PERHAPS OTHER PEOPLE MAY CARRY THEM AS WELL HOPEFULLY SOME OF THOSE MORE KNOWLEGABLE WILL GIVE US THE ANSWERS. I HAVE MORE PICTURES OF OTHER EXAMPLES BUT THE FILE SIZE IS TOO LARGE AND I DON'T HAVE SOFTWARE TO DOWNSIZE.

21st January 2011, 12:50 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Barry, try the free www.photobucket.com

21st January 2011, 04:40 AM	#6
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Yes, Vandoo(Barry) try Photobucket...that is what I use and I shot with a 6.1 & a 16 MP camera.

21st January 2011, 05:15 AM	#8
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	I do not really know anything about Burmese knives (such as the above), but when I think of Priest/ Monks knives I think of these style Thai blessed knives... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5162 Also see at the bottom of this series of pictures the Monk's looking at these type knives: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...10&postcount=8 Here is also another great thread I pulled out of the archives is: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002295.html The most valuable are those who are blessed by well know/ famous Buddhist Monks. In this sense these type of special blessed knives are considered "amulets" If you search on ebay, "Thai Knife" in addition to fruit carving knives, you will see priest/ lucky knives which can be as small as 1-3 inches and of course much larger full size knives.

23rd January 2011, 08:59 PM	#10
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Beautiful carvings.... Here is a more related link I posted recently on another thread that is related: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=11

23rd January 2011, 09:00 PM	#11
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Specifically this comments by Mark: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...57&postcount=8

23rd January 2011, 09:11 PM	#12
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Barry, My feeling is that most of these ivory handle carving are Burmese Here is an interesting article I found online about Ivory carving in Myanmar http://www.asianart.com/articles/ivory/index.html

23rd January 2011, 09:33 PM	#13
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Monograph on Ivory Carving in Burma (1901) by Henry Sheldon Pratt http://ia700306.us.archive.org/25/it...00pratrich.pdf

24th January 2011, 12:21 AM	#14
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Thanks Nathaniel, very helpful.

26th March 2011, 05:23 AM	#15
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Another question: doe it matter if the hilt is made of ivory or bone?

26th March 2011, 05:26 AM	#16
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Hmmm...I don't know...I would imagine of Ivory is more prestigious. I'm sure though too there might be fakes made of bone or simulated material.

28th March 2011, 07:27 PM	#17
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Great thread, beautiful examples. Sorry about the poor pictures. I have this one on its way to me soon, length is 9cm. Any thoughts?