Mil- Am — The Mansfield Collection

Mil- Am Dao

Mil- Am Dao
Garo / Kuki / Naga
Bengal Presidency, British Raj (Garo Hills- Naga Hills, Assam Region, India)
Mid - third quarter of the 19th century (ca. 1850 - 1880)
Iron, hide, hair, fiber
Hilt: 18,4cm
Blade: 41cm
Central Segment: 16,2cm
Hilt & Blade: 75,6cm
Collection Date: 2021
Collection Number: 253

Ex. Auctions Imperial: Chatsworth, California, USA (2021)
Ex. Auctions Imperial: Chatsworth, California, USA (2019)
Ex. Sofe Design: Richardson, Texas, USA (2018)
Ex. California Private Collection

A rare fighting sword from the Garo Hills Region of Northeastern India, used by the Garo, Kuki, and Nagas, while forged and traded by Bengali smiths. Many examples collected by museums date to the mid- 19th century during British Colonial campaigns in British Bengal.

Wrought from a single piece of steel, of straight tang with a spatulate pommel. The blade heavily angled at the forte, then straightens out broadly to a double- edge with a cusped tip. The guard composed of a steel rod passing through a punched aperture in the tang and fitted with tufts of remaining hair and hide (cow or yak tail). An old fiber loop is tied near the cross guard. A unique, rare, and heavy fighting sword from the (Garo) hill warriors known as "Matgriks". A very old example.

Photograph 18: A Garo man in traditional costume, 1954.
Photograph 19: A Garo man in war dress. Playfair, The Garos. Page 57. 1909.
Photograph 20: Garo Jungle Book. William Carrey, 1909.

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[1] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-rare-naga-two-handed-dao-sword-9c245d39ee (This sword)

‍[2] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-rare-19th-c-indian-naga-tribe-headhunters-two-h-192-c-d71476fa6d (This Sword)

[3] Richardson, Thom. 2018. “Indian Arms And Armour”. Page 14

[4] Lord Egerton of Tatten. “Indian And Oriental Arms And Armour”. 2002. Page 84, 199

‍[5] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-168294

‍[6] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-169881

‍[7] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-30801

‍[8] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_As-8330

‍[9] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_As-8968

‍[10] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=1746

‍[11] https://www.mandarinmansion.com/glossary/milam