20th May 2021, 03:19 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olomouc
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Northern Thai or Laotian daab
Probably my favourite sword in the collection at the moment, this is a very well made specimen from what is now northern Thailand or Laos. The main features are a very wide spine with a distinctive V shape, round guard with four lobes, executed in bronze, hardwood handle and iron pommel with a bronze ferrule.
The difference between older swords like this and later examples is quite marked when you have handled a few. While the handle is fairly long it is very comfortable single handed held right behind the guard with a beautiful balance. The blade is notably better than most and was still extremely sharp. Nothing fancy about this sword, but I have always preferred the old warriors over the more decorative examples. |
20th May 2021, 08:41 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 165
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What a lovely sword! I think because they are so rare, the type is either overlooked or under-appreciated by Western collectors. The one that I've held has all the qualities you describe. It is missing the pommel fitting but other than that- and maybe because of that - the rest of the sword is in really good condition. The blade has what I think is the original polish and shows a really nice pattern over the entire length. A wonderful thing in hand.
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20th May 2021, 09:48 PM | #3 | |
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Quote:
Mine seems to belong to a slightly different style with less of a 'swelling' at the base of the guard to the ferrule and a simpler pommel concept, similar to some Thai examples with only a simple cap. That being said, even with these little differences, there is obviously some family similarity between yours and mine, while mine might have the simplest of pommels I kind of like the simplicity. It is certainly a combination of aspects that seem to be common to the general Lanna/Lan Xang area, which makes sense given the long political, economic and military connections between these areas. Needless to say congratulations on also having an extremely rare piece and one with a blade in beautiful condition! Last edited by Iain; 20th May 2021 at 10:09 PM. |
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21st May 2021, 01:27 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,194
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Iain and DhaDha,
Thank you for sharing pictures of your beautiful daab. Both excellent swords. Iain has mentioned the Lanna and Lan Xang periods in northern Thai and Lao history. Attached is a map showing the two kingdoms in the late 17th C. The Lan Na kingdom existed from the 13th C into the 18th C and its borders ebbed and flowed in northern Thailand and into neighboring areas of Burma and Laos. Its principal city was Chiang Mai. Lan Xang Hom Kao (Million Elephants and White Parasols) was a unified kingdom from the mid-13th C until the beginning of the 18th C. Its capital was initially Luang Praban and later Vientiane. In 1707 the kingdom was partitioned into several principalities. Both kingdoms were strong during approximately the same time frame. I think Iain's sword has features more in keeping with the heavily sinocized kingdom of Lan Na, most notably the lobulated disc guard, while the guard and hilt treatment of DhaDha's sword looks more typically Lao and from the late Lan Xang period. Both swords likely come from the late 17th or early 18th C. These are rare finds and congratulations to both of you! I have a couple of similar swords that were posted on this site previously that resemble certain elements on these two fine examples. One is a very large Thai sword with a large brass disc guard (as seen on Iain's daab), and the other is a samrit-hilted daab from Lan Xang. . Last edited by Ian; 21st May 2021 at 02:08 PM. Reason: Added links |
21st May 2021, 03:11 PM | #5 | ||
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Location: Olomouc
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After seeing the stunning patterning on DhaDha's blade I was inspired to have a deeper look at my own. Sadly mine was in fairly poor state when it arrived, but it was carefully restored to the current state and in the right light I was pleasantly pleased to see the same lamination clearly visible (enhanced here with a little photo tweaking and converting to black and white). |
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