Old excavated dha
Overall length

78.3 cm

Blade length

48.5 cm

Blade thickness

Base 10.5 cm

Middle 4 mm

5 cm from tip 2 mm

Blade width

Base 28.5 mm

Middle 26.5 mm

5 cm from tip 27 mm

Weight

571 grams

Point of balance

10 mm from the guard

hilt side (!)

Materials

Copper alloy, iron. Probably wood inside the hilt.

Origin

Mainland Southeast Asia

Dating

Probably 18th century

Provenance

European antique art market

Price €700, -

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Description

A southeast Asian sword in excavated condition. The blade with moderate curvature mostly concentrated near the base of the blade. It starts relatively thick at the base and then tapers to a thin point.

The hilt consists of an eight-lobed guard, typical for this type of sword, and a bronze hilt that consists of three segments. At the seem between the segments are grooved bands to conceal them, one slightly opened.

The pommel plate is a separate piece with raised decor and a small ring at the end. Iron has merged with the last segment, probably from an iron object that had been buried right next to it. The decor is identical to that on a Thai elephant bell that was donated to the British Museum in 1887 by Sir Ernest Mason Satow. See accession number 1887,0716.12.

The decor is quite rare, as apart from the lobed guard this style of sword is usually very plain.

 

Pommel of old dha

 

Comparable examples

This piece is quite similar to another piece listed here, which I had radiocarbon dated and X-ray fluorescence tested.

 

Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword
Old excavated southeast asian dha sword

Do you have anything for sale?

I might be interested in buying it.

Contact me

Introduction Fine silver overlaid dha

€3600,-

Of the silver overlaid type made in Mindan, with an unusual story on the blade.

€4000,-

Found in excavated condition, published with results of c-14 and XRF analysis.

€1000,-

Collected by a Russian prince from the hill peoples of central Vietnam in 1892.

€1800,-

Description A rather unusual Vi

€1100,-

Constructed out of dense hardwood and with fine mother-of-pearl inlays in the Vietnamese fashion.

€2000,-