Burmese dagger

Dagger with Silver Mounts & Ivory Hilt

This fine example of a Burmese dagger (dha-hmyaung) comprises a rosewood scabbard with silver mounts; a short, curved, single-edged steel blade; and an ivory hilt with silver mounts.

The hilt is of plain, shaped ivory with a fine honeyed patina.

The hilt collar is of silver embellished with a band of finely plaited silver. The scabbard has double band of silver edged with finely plaited silver wire and an end casing of silver with similar edging.

The condition is very good. There are no losses, no chips to the ivory, just some old but closed crackling that runs with the grain, and no movement of the blade in the hilt.

Acquired from the UK art market.

Fraser-Lu, S., Burmese Crafts: Past and Present, Oxford University Press, 1994.