Some other miniature stuff

Andrew · 17th April 2005, 10:23 PM

Predictably, these aren't PI stuff, but miniature dha. These have been a puzzle to me since I obtained them through a trade with another forum member some time ago.

Overall length approximately 7". Good blades, inlaid with silver koftgari work of high quality. Fittings high-content silver and copper twisted/braided wire work. Burmese.

Any thoughts?

nosmo king · 17th April 2005, 11:41 PM

Hello Andrew,Beautiful Dha!! These tiny works of art were status symbols of the wealthy Burmese.I guess they tried to outdo eachother in a way like the Russians did with their miniature firearms and edged weapons.In this case,smaller is better!!!I enclosed a few pics of a Dha in my collection.It is 6" long with a 3 1/2 " blade.Nicely forged blade(very sharp) and all high grade silver---Melted french coins probably!!!

The workmanship is amazing considering how tiny this piece is.
Regards,Nosmo

tom hyle · 18th April 2005, 12:07 AM

I would not imagine these small dha cross in to the realm of true miniatures; they are smaller than knife dhas I've seen, but not tremendously so, and about the size of my puuko that I carve wood with; a pretty handy size for a knife. My rambling point is I think they're for fairly ordinary use/wear. Would women wear a dha? Probably not, but instead would wear some sort of woman's knife? Just a guess there; input? Nice li'l dhas.

nosmo king · 18th April 2005, 02:43 AM

Not much smaller!!

Here's a better perspective:

Andrew · 18th April 2005, 02:55 AM

Great knives, Nosmo, thanks for sharing.

Tom, I don't disagree that most small dha are probably not "miniatures" in the same sense as the Filipino examples on this thread. However, most of the very small dha are probably a form of "prayer knife", particularly those from Thailand, where I understand it is common to have them blessed at Buddhist temples (Dan, are you out there to comment on this?). Some of those are quite small, and intended to be carried on or about the person. Nosmo's small knife may be of that type.

The two I posted are, I believe, truly miniatures. I showed them to Ian last year at Timonium, and we both speculated they were either a sort of "salesman" sample similar to the miniature safes carried by salesmen in the 19th and early 20th century, or perhaps (given the high level of workmanship), demonstration of the maker's skill.

Montino Bourbon · 18th April 2005, 06:09 AM

Here's a small Bugis keris that I found in a shop near here; it seems to have pamor wengkon. I would like to know if this is a 'patrem' or something else; any comments?

tom hyle · 18th April 2005, 10:01 AM

Yeah, Nosmo; I already knew that 3 was 1/2 of 6, but the picture clarifies a little, mainly about the smallness of the handle; more clarity would be to picture it next to a small adult human hand or a working puuko; this is a common using size of knife, in worldwide terms. That does not, of course, address itself to any particular cultural info. that may be available, but is, I think, an important point of division from what I'd call an actual miniature. Were it in the shape of a longsword that might make it a miniature at this size, or a knife version, much depending on the handle, I should think; this is not in the shape of a longsword though, but of a knife/dagger. There seems to be a longstanding tradition of miniature gunongs, BTW.

17th April 2005, 11:41 PM	#2
nosmo king Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 15	Hello Andrew,Beautiful Dha!! These tiny works of art were status symbols of the wealthy Burmese.I guess they tried to outdo eachother in a way like the Russians did with their miniature firearms and edged weapons.In this case,smaller is better!!!I enclosed a few pics of a Dha in my collection.It is 6" long with a 3 1/2 " blade.Nicely forged blade(very sharp) and all high grade silver---Melted french coins probably!!! The workmanship is amazing considering how tiny this piece is. Regards,Nosmo Attached Images

18th April 2005, 12:07 AM	#3
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I would not imagine these small dha cross in to the realm of true miniatures; they are smaller than knife dhas I've seen, but not tremendously so, and about the size of my puuko that I carve wood with; a pretty handy size for a knife. My rambling point is I think they're for fairly ordinary use/wear. Would women wear a dha? Probably not, but instead would wear some sort of woman's knife? Just a guess there; input? Nice li'l dhas. Last edited by tom hyle; 18th April 2005 at 02:40 AM. Reason: clarifying

18th April 2005, 02:43 AM	#4
nosmo king Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 15	Not much smaller!! Here's a better perspective: Attached Images

18th April 2005, 06:09 AM	#6
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Small Bugis keris Here's a small Bugis keris that I found in a shop near here; it seems to have pamor wengkon. I would like to know if this is a 'patrem' or something else; any comments? Attached Images

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17th April 2005, 10:23 PM	#1
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Predictably, these aren't PI stuff, but miniature dha. These have been a puzzle to me since I obtained them through a trade with another forum member some time ago. Overall length approximately 7". Good blades, inlaid with silver koftgari work of high quality. Fittings high-content silver and copper twisted/braided wire work. Burmese. Any thoughts?

18th April 2005, 02:55 AM	#5
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Great knives, Nosmo, thanks for sharing. Tom, I don't disagree that most small dha are probably not "miniatures" in the same sense as the Filipino examples on this thread. However, most of the very small dha are probably a form of "prayer knife", particularly those from Thailand, where I understand it is common to have them blessed at Buddhist temples (Dan, are you out there to comment on this?). Some of those are quite small, and intended to be carried on or about the person. Nosmo's small knife may be of that type. The two I posted are, I believe, truly miniatures. I showed them to Ian last year at Timonium, and we both speculated they were either a sort of "salesman" sample similar to the miniature safes carried by salesmen in the 19th and early 20th century, or perhaps (given the high level of workmanship), demonstration of the maker's skill.

18th April 2005, 10:01 AM	#7
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Yeah, Nosmo; I already knew that 3 was 1/2 of 6, but the picture clarifies a little, mainly about the smallness of the handle; more clarity would be to picture it next to a small adult human hand or a working puuko; this is a common using size of knife, in worldwide terms. That does not, of course, address itself to any particular cultural info. that may be available, but is, I think, an important point of division from what I'd call an actual miniature. Were it in the shape of a longsword that might make it a miniature at this size, or a knife version, much depending on the handle, I should think; this is not in the shape of a longsword though, but of a knife/dagger. There seems to be a longstanding tradition of miniature gunongs, BTW.