THE PROPERTY OF AN ENGLISH NOBLE FAMILY

A RARE SIAMESE (THAI) NIELLO AND SILVER-GILT MOUNTED SWORD (DHAB), 19TH CENTURY, ALMOST CERTAINLY MADE FOR PRESENTATION TO A FOREIGN DIGNITARY

with curved blade double-edged towards the point and formed with a full length fuller and a narrow groove along the back-edge on each face, silver-gilt and niello hilt of traditional form, chased with a band of foliage at the base, pointed pommel chased with flowers and foliage on a punched ground, integral grip of lai dok phuttan pattern, in its original silver-gilt and niello scabbard with wooden core, the chape and locket decorated with expanded flowerheads on a punched ground and the remaining surface decorated with a further design of lai dok phuttan

66.5 cm; 26 1/4 in blade

Provenance

The Earl Mountbatten of Burma, thence by descent

A Badae knife of similar traditional form and decorated in the same manner is preserved in the ancient Buddhist temple, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

For a discussion of Thai Royal Gifts and other presentation weapons see McQuail 1997, p.84.

Another Siamese sword of presentation quality was sold in these rooms 5th December 2018, lot 39.