What's your Avatar?

Mark · 23rd January 2007, 07:29 PM

A Burmese "bilu" (ogre), from a dha scabbard. The decoration on the sword itself shows the story of Princess Bedayi, or Bedi, in which an ogress named Sandamukhi figures, but there doesn't seem to be an ogre in the story, so I'm not sure why he's on the scabbard. There is an ogress at the same position on the opposite side of the scabbard, at any rate.

Tim Simmons · 23rd January 2007, 09:50 PM

Mine is an image taken off a shell cameo from the Austral Islands. This back to back figure adorns many artifacts from the Islands which are among the most isolated and only really visited by whalers in the 19th century. I can find many other examples but nothing about what they actually are. Some others to look at.

VVV · 23rd January 2007, 09:54 PM

Mine is a handle of a klewang from Palembang, Sumatra (see van Z pict 263).
I think it resembles a cock's comb which I found appropriate because some of my friends sometimes find me cocky.

Michael

ShayanMirza · 23rd January 2007, 11:52 PM

Mine is the sword of my great great great great great grandfather.

Bill M · 24th January 2007, 12:14 AM

Supposed to be a Tibetan monk shoulder or leg ball joint, carved.

Not perfectly sure it is Tibetan, but it is human. The doctor who replaced my knee and my chiropracter both agree on this.

Rick · 24th January 2007, 12:28 AM

I got to tell you Bill; that baby gives me the willies for some reason.

jmings · 24th January 2007, 12:36 AM

Mine is a cheap Indian Tulwar. <hangs head in embassassment>

Bill M · 24th January 2007, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I got to tell you Bill; that baby gives me the willies for some reason.

Reminds me of a quote, "He is a shiver looking for a spine to run up."

The Tibetans used a lot of human bones. They wanted to uinderscore the tramsient nature of life. You often find masks with five skulls across the top, like points on a crown. This signnifies the deaths of the five senses.

The Tibetans used to make me nervous. Now I get more "willies" from the Aghora.

But perhaps we should not digress for fear of the thread bing hijacked into extraneous topics. I am interested in the other avatars. I am enjoying knowing more about the people here!

RSWORD · 24th January 2007, 01:19 AM

Mine is a grouping of shamshir intended to illustrate the difference in blade curvature between earlier examples(top two blades are probably 17th century) and later examples(middle blade is 18th century and bottom two are 19th century).

Andrew · 24th January 2007, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShayanMirza

Mine is the sword of my great great great great great grandfather.

Time to start a thread about that one!

Emanuel · 24th January 2007, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

Time to start a thread about that one!

I second that!! 7 generations, must have some good storytellin'.

Joe · 24th January 2007, 03:50 AM

Mine is the shichishito, the famous seven-pronged sword forged in Korea (or possibly China) in the 4th century, and sent as a gift to Japan.

ShayanMirza · 24th January 2007, 04:26 AM

Whoops! I went one "great" too many. Just great x 4 grandfather.

DaveA · 28th February 2013, 03:40 PM

No, this is not an "aerobe" flying toy.

My avatar is a 19th C. "Chakkar Sada" from India, a type of Chakrum also known as a Chakra, Chakar, and Quoit. This was the weapon of choice for Sikhs for hundreds of years. The ring is beveled to generate aerodynamic lift. It is radial patterned welded steel and very sharp on the outside edge. With a range of 40 to 50 meters, it is utter silent when thrown properly.

Just like the Aerobie, Frisbee, and similar toys, there are many ways to throw it — but unlike them, no way to safely catch it!

The Nihang, an armed Sikh order, were masters of this weapon and would hurl volleys of these (as with Shuriken) at the enemy in much the same role of artillery. It is also useful in melee, worn around the arm or wrist or held.

Chakrams are rarely found today. After the Sikh wars and after the mutiny of 1857, in the general disarmament that took place many old weapons were destroyed and sold as metal.

23rd January 2007, 09:50 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,922	Mine is an image taken off a shell cameo from the Austral Islands. This back to back figure adorns many artifacts from the Islands which are among the most isolated and only really visited by whalers in the 19th century. I can find many other examples but nothing about what they actually are. Some others to look at. Attached Images

24th January 2007, 12:36 AM	#7
jmings Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tebbetts, Missouri, USA Posts: 49	Avatar Mine is a cheap Indian Tulwar. <hangs head in embassassment>

28th February 2013, 03:40 PM	#14
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 432	My avatar: Chakkar Sada No, this is not an "aerobe" flying toy. My avatar is a 19th C. "Chakkar Sada" from India, a type of Chakrum also known as a Chakra, Chakar, and Quoit. This was the weapon of choice for Sikhs for hundreds of years. The ring is beveled to generate aerodynamic lift. It is radial patterned welded steel and very sharp on the outside edge. With a range of 40 to 50 meters, it is utter silent when thrown properly. Just like the Aerobie, Frisbee, and similar toys, there are many ways to throw it — but unlike them, no way to safely catch it! The Nihang, an armed Sikh order, were masters of this weapon and would hurl volleys of these (as with Shuriken) at the enemy in much the same role of artillery. It is also useful in melee, worn around the arm or wrist or held. Chakrams are rarely found today. After the Sikh wars and after the mutiny of 1857, in the general disarmament that took place many old weapons were destroyed and sold as metal.

23rd January 2007, 07:29 PM	#1
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	A Burmese "bilu" (ogre), from a dha scabbard. The decoration on the sword itself shows the story of Princess Bedayi, or Bedi, in which an ogress named Sandamukhi figures, but there doesn't seem to be an ogre in the story, so I'm not sure why he's on the scabbard. There is an ogress at the same position on the opposite side of the scabbard, at any rate.

23rd January 2007, 09:54 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Mine is a handle of a klewang from Palembang, Sumatra (see van Z pict 263). I think it resembles a cock's comb which I found appropriate because some of my friends sometimes find me cocky. Michael

23rd January 2007, 11:52 PM	#4
ShayanMirza Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlottesville Posts: 25	Mine is the sword of my great great great great great grandfather.

24th January 2007, 12:14 AM	#5
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Supposed to be a Tibetan monk shoulder or leg ball joint, carved. Not perfectly sure it is Tibetan, but it is human. The doctor who replaced my knee and my chiropracter both agree on this.

24th January 2007, 12:28 AM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	I got to tell you Bill; that baby gives me the willies for some reason.

24th January 2007, 01:19 AM	#9
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,093	Mine is a grouping of shamshir intended to illustrate the difference in blade curvature between earlier examples(top two blades are probably 17th century) and later examples(middle blade is 18th century and bottom two are 19th century).

24th January 2007, 03:50 AM	#12
Joe Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 48	Mine is the shichishito, the famous seven-pronged sword forged in Korea (or possibly China) in the 4th century, and sent as a gift to Japan.

24th January 2007, 04:26 AM	#13
ShayanMirza Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlottesville Posts: 25	Whoops! I went one "great" too many. Just great x 4 grandfather.