Not currently on display at the V&A

Sword and Sheath

late 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Sacrificial knife, with short incurved steel blade, hooked at the point, and barbed on the upper edge; the knife blade is narrow near the hilt, but widens to a square point, the convex cutting edge rounding to a kind of hook, and the upper side being nicked barb wise.

Bronze hilt and guard in one piece, with a tuft of red goat's hair plugged into the pommel. The handle is curt from one piece of bronze, the grip being slightly curved and the guard plain, flat and rectangular. A tuft of red and black goat's hair projects from the end.

The scabbard of plaited cane open basketwork, with a sling of plaited cotton cord. The openwork scabbard is flat and oblong and has a leather guard inside and cotton sling outside.


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Sword
  • Sword Sheath
Materials and techniques
bronze, steel, hair, cane, cotton
Brief description
Sword and sheath, Burma, 19th century
Physical description
Sacrificial knife, with short incurved steel blade, hooked at the point, and barbed on the upper edge; the knife blade is narrow near the hilt, but widens to a square point, the convex cutting edge rounding to a kind of hook, and the upper side being nicked barb wise.

Bronze hilt and guard in one piece, with a tuft of red goat's hair plugged into the pommel. The handle is curt from one piece of bronze, the grip being slightly curved and the guard plain, flat and rectangular. A tuft of red and black goat's hair projects from the end.

The scabbard of plaited cane open basketwork, with a sling of plaited cotton cord. The openwork scabbard is flat and oblong and has a leather guard inside and cotton sling outside.
Dimensions
  • Knife length: 44.5cm
  • Widest part of hilt width: 9.5cm
  • Scabbard length: 32cm
  • Scabbard width: 11cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Gen. Sir C. Mansfield Clarke, Bt, G.C.B., G.C.V.O, etc., 20 Lennox Gardens
Object history
Used by the Chin people living West of the Irrawaddy River.
Collection
Accession number
IM.216-1920

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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