Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 248:
A distinctive south-east Asian sword, this example is a typical though higherquality example of the classic sword of Burma and Thailand, called a dha and daab, respectivelyin each country, with large variations in form and nomenclature across the Golden Triangleregion including Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and southern China/Yunnan. These swordstypically have a similar form which is comprised of rounded cross section tubular grips, thoughthese come in many forms of decoration including those mounted in silver such as this example.The blades display significant variation and are distinguished by the quality of the bladegeometry and smithing. In this case, this blade form with the rounded spatulate tip with a slightextension is termed a hua bua in Thai, or a sheephead tip.The dha and its variants were possibly derived from the Assamese and Naga dao, a broadswordused by both the Assamese people and Naga people of northeast India for digging as well asfighting. The Naga weapon was a thick, heavy, eighteen-inch long backsword with a bevelinstead of a point, and this form of blade is found on some dha.Alternatively, the dha may have its origins with the Tai people who migrated to the area frompresent-day Yunnan Province in southern China. The Khmer and Mon peoples were wellestablished before the arrival the Tai or the Burmese people; and perhaps invented the dha as13th-century reliefs at Angkor Wat depict the weapon.The example in the Schmiedt Collection is a beautifully preserved example with a very finelymade blade displaying a well-defined blade profile including a deep fuller running the length ofthe blade and the rare form of hua bua blade tip. The fullering and geometry of the blade areindicative of very high quality smithing.Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : Blade Length : References:1. Greaves, I. A., Bowditch, M. Winston, A. (2007) "The Swords .of ContinentalSoutheast Asia, " in History of Steel in Eastern Asia, Macao Museum of ArtDetailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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