Dao
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1890 - 1905
Materials
goat hair, cane, steel, wood & paint
Measurements
630 mm (H); 100 mm (W); 70 mm (D)
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 107258
Summary
This is a Dao, (battle-axe) from the Naga tribe. It is made from a wooden shaft with plaited red crane and red and black dyed hair, the blade is made from steel and has a single edge. The Naga is made up of around thirty tribes that reside in Assam, Arunchal Pradesh, Manipur in India, as well as Burma. 'An Assamese battle-axe, the handle decorated with wickerwork and tufts of coloured hair - Naga Tribes' (Christie's entry)
Provenance
Purchased in 1986 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000). Gifted to the National Trust in 1987 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.