Description:

South Asia/Southeast Asia, India/Burma (present day Myanmar) border, Nagaland, Sumi Naga people, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. An intimidating axe known as a sema dao comprised of a large steel blade and a long wooden handle lined with a vertical row of tassels of coarse hair, possibly horse or goat, dyed a vibrant hue of scarlet with streaks of butterscotch and mocha. The handle boasts a lovely natural wood grain and is wound with rattan at the neck to attach to the axe head, which presents a lengthy, curved cutting edge. Dao were both ceremonial and utilitarian tools that symbolized manhood, and wives often gave husbands daos as gifts to symbolize his responsibilities to protect, hunt, and farm. Size: 27.8" L x 2.6" W (70.6 cm x 6.6 cm)

The name Naga is given to a series of hill tribes in southeastern Asia. Scholars posit that the name of these people's may in part derive from their worship of snakes; Naga was the Hindu cobra deity. Naga may also stem from the Hindustan word "nag" which means mountain. For more information about the Naga people please reference J. H. Hutton's "The Sema Nagas" (1921).

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#169282

  • Condition: Losses of some horsehair tassels. Some nicks and abrasions to handle and blade. Softening of blade edge, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent.

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March 13, 2022 11:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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