Dha from Brunei

ariel · 20th April 2005, 08:32 PM

I have seen Parang Naburs with similar blades: relatively short and very curved, often with Yelman. manteris had one like that in Timonium.
The blade was obviously made locally.

Battara · 20th April 2005, 08:53 PM

Must admit that this confused me as well. I like Ariel's comparison to the parang nabor in the blade department.

tom hyle · 21st April 2005, 12:56 AM

Still seems to me like the end from a longer blade. Does the groove go into the handle? Does anyone know? It seems to, but there's a shadow.

Conogre · 21st April 2005, 07:05 AM

I'm not sure what is meant by "in two levels carved ivory hilt with deities and floral ornaments", but I saw a lot of ivory carved completely through into a latticework type effect with more carving inside, along the "ship in a bottle" lines in the Mekong delta region of Vietnam in the late 1960's.
I could never find out exactly where it came from, but it was exclusively being sold by merchants from India.
Mike

tom hyle · 21st April 2005, 11:51 AM

Pretty much dead on, Mike. There is an inner carved handle with a space between it and the outer, hollow carved layer. I haven't examined this piece, but this is an established mainland SE Asian dha hilt type, and IMHO intrisically frajile and probably vibratory; ceremonial, decorative, etc. (depending somewhat on the length of ferule with solid material in it). The better ones are allegedly made from single pieces of ivory, and such work is not impossible, but those I've examined had the inner core carved seperately then fitted inside of the outer shell.

20th April 2005, 08:32 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I have seen Parang Naburs with similar blades: relatively short and very curved, often with Yelman. manteris had one like that in Timonium. The blade was obviously made locally.

20th April 2005, 08:53 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Must admit that this confused me as well. I like Ariel's comparison to the parang nabor in the blade department.

21st April 2005, 12:56 AM	#3
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Still seems to me like the end from a longer blade. Does the groove go into the handle? Does anyone know? It seems to, but there's a shadow.

21st April 2005, 07:05 AM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	I'm not sure what is meant by "in two levels carved ivory hilt with deities and floral ornaments", but I saw a lot of ivory carved completely through into a latticework type effect with more carving inside, along the "ship in a bottle" lines in the Mekong delta region of Vietnam in the late 1960's. I could never find out exactly where it came from, but it was exclusively being sold by merchants from India. Mike

21st April 2005, 11:51 AM	#5
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Pretty much dead on, Mike. There is an inner carved handle with a space between it and the outer, hollow carved layer. I haven't examined this piece, but this is an established mainland SE Asian dha hilt type, and IMHO intrisically frajile and probably vibratory; ceremonial, decorative, etc. (depending somewhat on the length of ferule with solid material in it). The better ones are allegedly made from single pieces of ivory, and such work is not impossible, but those I've examined had the inner core carved seperately then fitted inside of the outer shell.