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19th Century Chinese Dao Sword with Scabbard

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in Asian swords

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This is an authentic Chinese ring pommel dao complete with ultra-rare original leather scabbard. It is a great tactile piece that feels finely balanced. The blade is rustic, but lovely in its honesty. The scabbard is very attractive. Unfortunately some past owner has written their name in black marker ink on the scabbard throat and lightly on the hilt cloth. Other than that, it’s a highly desirable weapon for collectors of authentic Chinese items. These are not easily found.

Length: 70 cm.

$550

British World War 2 Slouch Hat 1943

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in Helmets and hats

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A British Slouch Hat made by Failsworth Hats, who are located in the vicinity of Manchester. These, as you can imagine, are now few and far between. The British wore these not just in Asia, where they fought side by side with Australians  wearing much the same thing, they were also used in Africa and elsewhere.

This example is complete with puggaree (the cloth band on the outside of the hat) and inner leather liner, which features the War Department broad arrow, hat size, and date of manufacture – 1943, a very active year in all the hot spots where this item may have been worn!

There is some minimal mothing, which is to be expected on a wool item of this age (closing on 70 years), but it’s not serious at all. Remember, many of the owners of these hats are now dead – not through battle, but through old age!

A very collectable item at a good price.

$195

16th Century Close Helmet

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in Armour

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This is an authentic mainland European close helmet from around about 1580, possibly Italian or German. The helmet still opens and closes with relative ease. There is a securing hook on the right hand side which has been rusted solidly shut. The helmet closes completely, but leaves a slight gap when closed. The surface shows signs of having been treated with a tar-like substance, apparently a common practice in 16th century Europe meant to protect the metal. Indeed, as you can see the photos, the metal remains in a remarkable stable condition. It is clear from the patina that it is old, very old. The few rust spots on it are contained and minimal and seem only where the protective layering was thinner.

I bought this item from a reliable dealer. It is heavy and utilitarian. To all appearances, this is the real thing, a piece of 16th century equipment, not a 19th century example intended for display. The helmet is certainly one of the more uncommon variants, which certainly increases its appeal.

$4495

Old Authentic Naga Headhunter’s Dao

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in Clubs and axes

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An old authentic naga headhunting dao or axe/sword. This has a fantastic patina. The item has been untouched. The haft has been made of a very attractive hardwood and needs to be touched and seen to appreciate it’s tactile and aesthetic appeal. The blade has some pitting, to be expected from an authentic piece of any real age. At the end of the haft there is dyed goat’s hair which has been placed (I think it must have been gummed) into holes deliberately for that purpose.

A fetching tribal item perfect for anyone who harbours a fascination for headhunter culture.

Nagaland is in India’s North, adjacent to (and including parts of) Burma. It remains a very remote and intriguing tribal society.

 

$245

Large 19th Century Fijian Root Stock Club with Provenance

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in VERY RECENTLY SOLD

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An impressive Fijian Root Stock Club with a great patina, purchased from the Lillian Hoffman collection.

This large and very impressive club is certainly 19th century, and very possibly earlier. It has a striking patina that I’ve rarely encounted on similar clubs. There is Fijian zigzag carving at the very end of the club. This is relatively faint, which is very common with this particular form.

The club is completely intact, with old surface level rupture lines that only enhance the overall character and reinforce the usage patina of the piece.

There is a very old screw at the back of the club, no doubt placed to facilitate hanging. By the look of it this was done a very long time ago and may be almost as old as the club. There is also another small and insignificant hole, no doubt from a small screw that was removed. Otherwise pristine and untouched.

Please see pictures as they form part of the description.

95cm long, and about 2.25kg, this monster of a weapon was made for someone large, and with an equally big swing.

Fine 19th Century Jade Hilted Mughal Dagger

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in VERY RECENTLY SOLD

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This is a fine early 19th century jade-hilted khanjar dagger. It has a great tiered blade typical of the finer quality pieces. The jade handle also has a round mother-of-pearl eye inset, giving the hilt a bird head appearance. Some of the gilt on the metal part of the hilt has worn away. Otherwise a fine rare piece that would ordinarily attract a far higher price. Authentic jade-hilted daggers like this usually carry a premium. Priced to sell. Comes with it’s immaculate and original leather silver-mounted scabbard.

18th/19th Century Indo-Persian Fakir’s Horns

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in VERY RECENTLY SOLD

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This is an impressive large pair of Fakir’s Horns – carried by Indian Fakir’s (holy men) ostensibly because they were forbidden from carrying weapons. It’s a rare item and this is in nice, complete condition. Looking at it, with it’s fine forged spear tips, placed on large blackbuck horns, it’s hard to imagine this being not classified as a ‘weapon’.

This is a great example, at 87cm from tip to tip, and dates back to the early 19th century, perhaps even slightly earlier.


Marvellous Vietnamese Harvesting Knife 1890 – 1900

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in Artefacts

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This is the sort of charmingly rustic artefact you don’t see every day. It’s a Vietnamese rice harvesting knife dating back to the late 19th century. It is beautifully and ingeniously constructed from a single piece of wood. The blade is inserted into grooves in the wooden haft, but also held for additional  reinforcement by bands of old wire. This hails from a time when items were handcrafted with care, even in out-of-the-way agrarian communities. The wood is nicely finished and the design is simple, aesthetic and surprisingly clever.

The pictures say it all  – it’s a lovely display piece that evokes a simpler, if exotic, world and time. The custom-made stand is included.

About 44cm high and 21cm wide from the tip of the branching out piece to the main shaft.

Superb Japanese Armour 19th Century Provenance Owsten Collection

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in Armour

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Brown lacquer Samurai armour. Beautiful offering. 19th century. Impeccable provenance.

This fine suit of armour featured two years ago in the first Owsten Collection auction held by Bonhams in Sydney – an event that attracted unprecedented interest both within Sydney Australia and around the world. This was one of about 8 or 10 fine sets sold and part of one of the most extensive and highly regarded antique collections in the world.

These suits would probably have been handpicked by an expert in the field and recommended for the collection of the original owner. This remarkable bown lacquer suit is complete and matching in every detail. This a great opportunity to pick up a fine set of armour with the best possible provenance. Purchase with confidence.

Please note that only the armour is available in the pictures above. The items on the wall and the other background items are not part of this sale.

Below is a full description of the suit, as described in the original auction.

A Japanese brown-lacquer armour with a momonari kabuto 19th century, laced in white, orange and green lacing and comprising a momonari kabuto lacquered russet brown and mounted with a four-lame Hineno-style yodarekake, the fukigaeshi applied with stenciled doe skin and the mabisashi lacquered gold and finished in ishime and trimmed with black fukurin; the menpo lacquered to match and applied with a bushy moustache and fitted with a four-lame yodarekake; the cuirass a yokohagi okegawa do with cross-knots, the munaita and finished in gold lacquer to match the helmet and applied with two decorative rings, the cuirass fitted with seven sections of five-lame kusazuri; chusode; shino gote silvered on the splints; plate and chain mail haidate and shino suneate both silvered to match the kote

$15995

Nias Door Panel Carving Rare Extremely Old

Posted by Left Hand Dagger in Artefacts

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An ancient Lasara figure from Nias – perhaps 200 plus years old.

This exquisite piece of weathered teak was likely a part of a door or window panel taken from Nias – an island off the coast of Sumatra known for both its distinctive culture and its headhunting. I believe it to be a Lasara – a mythological creature unique to Nias. On the side, hitching a ride, is a small monkey/human-like figure known as a Beku, which is frequently found on Lasara sculptures.

The two profiles of this piece are noticeably different in terms of weathering, with one side much more weathered than the other, reinforcing the impression that this was a panel, with one side facing the weather. It was well known that such panels, usually adorning the homes of high status individuals on the island, were removed by artefact hunters early on in that island’s integration into a wider world. Looking at the beautiful golden patina on this and the exquisite natural weathering to the wood, it would not surprise me if this carving was well over 200 years old. Frankly, it could be twice that old.

Nias artefacts are very desirable as they are quite scarce and the island is renowned for its distinctive cultural style. The lasara and beku feature on the hilts of Balato too  – the sword that was carried by indigenous headhunters. Available here at a reasonable price, but please – feel free to make your offer.

Item is about 33cm, and 42cm when displayed on stand. Weighs a substantial 1kg, but then it is teak.

$395