Burmese Iron Single-Edged Sword with Scabbard
19th century A.D. or earlier. Comprising a smooth, slightly curved and unornamented blade, the hilt wrapped with organic plaited and plain string; tubular bamboo(?) scabbard wrapped with plaited string. Cf. similar specimen in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, accession number 36.25.1437a,b.886 grams, 91 cm long (35 7/8 in.). Ex Reeman Dansie, Colchester, Essex, UK. The dha may have its origins with the Tai people who migrated to the area from present-day Yunnan Province in southern China. This sabre varied considerably according to locality but they shared some features that define them apart from other weapons and tools of the area, like the round cross-section grip, a long, gently curving blade with a single edge, and the absence of a guard. [No Reserve]