Darfia Copper Alloy question

kronckew · 15th December 2010, 08:20 PM

suassa? certainly used on indonesian/malay stuff....

Quote:

Originally Posted by vvv

It's 25% gold, 19% silver and 56% copper.

Battara · 15th December 2010, 08:44 PM

SE Asia has had a long history of alloys. Silver and copper, brass (zinc and copper), bronze (tin and copper), white metal (nickel and copper), and as Kronckew says, swassa (roughly gold and copper). These goes back centuries.

Gavin Nugent · 15th December 2010, 09:52 PM

Thanks guys,

I deliberately left Suassa out of my initial comments knowing it is found on some of my Sumatran pieces and has the typical gold/copper hue... this piece pre dates them by about 150 years, is from Another region and has a copper/ silver hue.
Do the Dhafia purists refer to this sheath covering as Suassa? By another name?? Or is the term for this alloy unknown?

Gav

Battara · 16th December 2010, 01:21 AM

Suassa has gold involved. If it is a silver/copper alloy it is not suassa.

Gavin Nugent · 18th December 2010, 01:29 PM

Interesting note, reading a previous thread on the ole Thai swords, it was noted in one posting that copper was one of the mediums worn by people of rank. Any further ideas on what rank a person had to be to display this material in such a manner?

Any takers on the copper silver alloy naming or other usage.

Gav

Nathaniel · 18th December 2010, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Interesting note, reading a previous thread on the ole Thai swords, it was noted in one posting that copper was one of the mediums worn by people of rank. Any further ideas on what rank a person had to be to display this material in such a manner?

Any takers on the copper silver alloy naming or other usage.

Gav

Interesting Gav, can you cite the thread regarding the copper & rank?

I do not doubt it. I've seen with some Thai swords a copper, brass or gold disk/ or small tsuba.

Nathaniel · 18th December 2010, 10:24 PM

Electrum = Naturally occurring silver & gold alloy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrum

List of Alloys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alloys

There are different hues of gold...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored_gold

15th December 2010, 09:52 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	The Suassa Thanks guys, I deliberately left Suassa out of my initial comments knowing it is found on some of my Sumatran pieces and has the typical gold/copper hue... this piece pre dates them by about 150 years, is from Another region and has a copper/ silver hue. Do the Dhafia purists refer to this sheath covering as Suassa? By another name?? Or is the term for this alloy unknown? Gav

18th December 2010, 01:29 PM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Interesting Interesting note, reading a previous thread on the ole Thai swords, it was noted in one posting that copper was one of the mediums worn by people of rank. Any further ideas on what rank a person had to be to display this material in such a manner? Any takers on the copper silver alloy naming or other usage. Gav

15th December 2010, 08:44 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	SE Asia has had a long history of alloys. Silver and copper, brass (zinc and copper), bronze (tin and copper), white metal (nickel and copper), and as Kronckew says, swassa (roughly gold and copper). These goes back centuries.

16th December 2010, 01:21 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Suassa has gold involved. If it is a silver/copper alloy it is not suassa.

18th December 2010, 10:24 PM	#7
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Electrum = Naturally occurring silver & gold alloy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrum List of Alloys http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alloys There are different hues of gold... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored_gold