Burmese Ivory Dha Handle

Exceptionally Finely Carved & Pierced Ivory Dha Handle

This is the most intricately ivory dha or sword hilt that we have seen. It is also has no losses to the finely-carved extremities.

It is carved with a series of demons standing (or squatting) on each other’s shoulders, facing front and back. Naga heads also emerge from the ensemble to complete the complex array. The space between the figures is delineated and the hilt is pierced all the way through.

The figures wear spiky court-like costume and jewellery.

The eyes of each figure are marked out with small, dark pieces of horn, which provide a clear contrast with the creaminess of the ivory (again, there are no losses.)

The hilt has a curved line which matches the natural flow of the ivory tusk.

According to Fraser-Lu (1994, p. 114), although some ivory in 19th century Burma was imported from India and Africa, most local ivory carvers preferred to work with local ivory from the Shan states which was regarded has having a waxier consistency and was this easier to carve.

As mentioned, there are no losses to the carving on th example here. There are some old, shallow, age-related cracks to the ivory at the base, but these are stable and inconsequential. The hilt is large, sculptural and of museum quality in terms of its fineness and condition.