Burmese Dagger With Carved Handle

The "Dha Hmyaung" is a side knife found in Burma and is often equipped with a well-forged, slightly curved blade with a single or double edge. The handles are often made of ivory or bone and carved with very intricate intertwined designs representing spiritual figures. Often with brass or silver fittings and scabbards. Ranging from a simple utility knife to a formal status symbol among the higher ranks. Most "Dha Hmyaung" exhibit cultural influence such as the carving style and silverware typical of the Shan people residing in eastern and central Burma.

This example: Beautiful example with a good quality blade, slightly curved and equipped with a single edge and a segmented false edge. The guard and scabbard ferrule are silver with braided borders. The handle is elaborately carved from bone and depicts intertwined foliage, petals and two stacked figures. These sculptures are found in both bone and ivory and are often attributed to the Moulmein and Pyinmana workshops of southern and central Burma. The scabbard is made of two plates of very dark, dense hardwood, hammered at the point and held together by a silver ferrule. Condition: Very good condition, well maintained.

Dimensions: Handle length: 10.5 cm Blade length: 16.2 cm Thickness of the back of the blade: 5 mm Total length: 28.2 cm Weight: 211gr. Comparable examples: – The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York acc.nr. 36,25,998