Belly Dancer Jambiya

David · 13th January 2011, 05:28 PM

Yes, that's a nice and decorative high end example. These are generally considered household chore utility knives, but yours looks like it was made for show or for a woman of status...

David · 13th January 2011, 05:33 PM

Here is a link to mine and a few other examples. Some members maintain that these knives were also used by men. All the writing i have seen about them call them a woman's knife and i have yet to see any evidence, photographic or otherwise to counter this. Maybe someone has some photos...
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7506

celtan · 13th January 2011, 05:40 PM

Hi David,

Your thread is where I got most of the info from..!

: )

Best

Manuel

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Here is a link to mine and a few other examples. Some members maintain that these knives were also used by men. All the writing i have seen about them call them a woman's knife and i have yet to see any evidence, photographic or otherwise to counter this. Maybe someone has some photos...
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7506

Sajen · 13th January 2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Here is a link to mine and a few other examples. Some members maintain that these knives were also used by men. All the writing i have seen about them call them a woman's knife and i have yet to see any evidence, photographic or otherwise to counter this. Maybe someone has some photos...
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7506

Hello David,

in this thread Migueldiaz show two pictures: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=sangi

By both is clearly to seen that a man wear a Sangi.

Regards,

Detlef

Jim McDougall · 13th January 2011, 06:21 PM

When I first saw the 'belly dancer' term here, I couldn't help thinking of the bizarre treatise on belly dancing swords which was proposed seriously some years ago, but was really pretty hard to take seriously

However, I suppose when studying weaponry, there is a degree of application that must be considered from the costume and ritual perspective.

With that, it is interesting to see that this item is shown as a womans knife, and from Bagabo, while as also noted, wider range of use must be considered.

These bells are known throughout Asia as 'tiger bells', and while apparantly produced largely in China, they are widely distributed, and thier use is found in many applications...including dance accoutrements. While not of course, 'belly dancing' necessarily, these sound producing bells are found in that as well as many kinds of dancing.

I found the information on these bells when recalling that these were also seen on some kampilan, and in this case, appear to have been regarded as auspicious and attached to the hilts. In the case of these, there do seem to be instances noted in Mindanao ( the knife here is from Bagobo in SE Mindanao), as well as in Indonesia and Malaysia (Sarawak).

In many instances these bells are used in amuletic sense and by shamans, and of course in many cases these are placed on animals, so it seems the uses of these range from novelty to auspicious features.

Attached is a plate furnished by Maurice and a kampilan posted by Gav, both in November, 2009, which I found by using the search feature here.

13th January 2011, 06:21 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,733	When I first saw the 'belly dancer' term here, I couldn't help thinking of the bizarre treatise on belly dancing swords which was proposed seriously some years ago, but was really pretty hard to take seriously However, I suppose when studying weaponry, there is a degree of application that must be considered from the costume and ritual perspective. With that, it is interesting to see that this item is shown as a womans knife, and from Bagabo, while as also noted, wider range of use must be considered. These bells are known throughout Asia as 'tiger bells', and while apparantly produced largely in China, they are widely distributed, and thier use is found in many applications...including dance accoutrements. While not of course, 'belly dancing' necessarily, these sound producing bells are found in that as well as many kinds of dancing. I found the information on these bells when recalling that these were also seen on some kampilan, and in this case, appear to have been regarded as auspicious and attached to the hilts. In the case of these, there do seem to be instances noted in Mindanao ( the knife here is from Bagobo in SE Mindanao), as well as in Indonesia and Malaysia (Sarawak). In many instances these bells are used in amuletic sense and by shamans, and of course in many cases these are placed on animals, so it seems the uses of these range from novelty to auspicious features. Attached is a plate furnished by Maurice and a kampilan posted by Gav, both in November, 2009, which I found by using the search feature here. Attached Images

13th January 2011, 05:28 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,261	Yes, that's a nice and decorative high end example. These are generally considered household chore utility knives, but yours looks like it was made for show or for a woman of status...

13th January 2011, 05:33 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,261	Here is a link to mine and a few other examples. Some members maintain that these knives were also used by men. All the writing i have seen about them call them a woman's knife and i have yet to see any evidence, photographic or otherwise to counter this. Maybe someone has some photos... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7506