Dha Hmyuang
Shan - Burmese - Siamese - Lao
Konbaung Dynasty - Shan State - British Burma (Myanmar) - Kingdom of Siam (Thailand, Laos)
Last half of the 19th century (ca. 1885)
Steel, ivory, silver, wood
Blade: 6 3/4" (17.1cm)
Hilt & Blade: 11 3/8" (28.9cm)
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 12 1/2" (31.8cm)
Collection Date: 2019
Collection Number: 89

Ex. American Art Market: (2023)

A fine dha knife known as a dha hmyuang from the historic Burmese - Northen Thai - Lao region. The straight single- edged steel blade widens near the middle before downcurving toward the acute sharp point. The blade in a high carbon steel of rich dark patina. Thick silver ferrule finely accented in patterns of silver filigree bands.

Cylindrical hilt of elephant ivory displaying a warm yellowish patina, elegantly carved in high relief in a labyrinth of kanok, or swirling floral scrolls intertwining amongst each other. Horn pommel carved in a gardrooned tiered lotus dome ending in an ivory pommel cap.

The sheath with a wooden interior, entirely covered in silver sheet decorated in sectioned bands of silver filigree. The base elaborated in traditional Shan filigree floral motifs.

The sheath is of Shan craftsmanship and is not original to the knife as it does not entirely fit properly. The silver chape of the sheath is missing, exposing the wooden core. Still, the knife presents itself with an elegantly carved ivory grip and pommel paired with extensive silver fiittings throughout.

[1] https://collections.penn.museum/collections/object/88025

[2] https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31618

[3] https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/30920

[4] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1952-1110-5-a-b?selectedImageId=1614053842

[5] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1952-1110-6-a-b?selectedImageId=1614054081

[6] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_As1972-Q-3321-a

[7] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=7188

[8] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6689

[9] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=8324

[10] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4364

[11] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3839

[12] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3805

[13] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4919

[14] https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/fine-burmese-dha-hmyaung