Dha Hmyaung
Shan - Lanna (Tai Yuan)
British Burma (Myanmar) - Siam Kingdom (Northern Thailand) - French Protecorate of Laos (Laos) - Southern Yunnan, Qing Dynasty (Southern China)
Late 19th - Early 20th century (ca. 1880 - 1910)
Steel, silver, ivory, wood, cotton
Blade: 6 1/2" (16.5cm)
Hilt & Blade: 10 1/2" (26.7cm)
Hilt, Bade, Sheath: 11" (27.9cm)
Collection Date: 2021
Collection Number: 252

Ex. Auctions Imperial: Chatsworth, California, USA (2021)

A fine small Burmese knife known as a dha hmyaung, of Shan craftsmanship. The slightly upcurving single- edged blade having a sharp acute point. Silver ferrule decorated in silver filigree bands. Cylindrical elephant ivory hilt, which is slightly outcurving.

The sheath of a wooden interior, the exterior completely covered in silver sheet, extensively decorated with a series of silver filigree bands. A small silver filigree floral motif is present near the bottom. Flared silver pommel chape. On the base of the chape is a stamp, reminiscent of the Burmese numeral "9", possibly distinguishing a particular silversmith, but more likely hallmarking the quality grade of the silver. The sheath is wrapped in a green baldroc cord, which may possibly be a later replacement. A fine small Burmese knife of silver mounts, hallmarked, while having an ivory hilt.

Photograph 19: A photograph of a Shan warrior, ca. 1889. Burma. Photographed by Felice Beato, Alkazi Foundation.
Photograph 20: A photograph of a child, Burma.

[1] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-burmese-dha-dagger-fda45f9bd7 (This Knife)

[2] https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31074

[3] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=581

[4] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4324

[5] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3071

[6] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4987

[7] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6044

[8] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4265

[9] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=8212

[10] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5335

[11] https://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/object/silver-encased-dagger-dha-hmyaung-with-ivory-hilt/