A Silver-mounted Shan dha

A silver-mounted dha of the Shan people of the Burmese-Chinese border region.
 
Shan dha are characterised by the lotus bud pommel, the pointed blade profile, the silver mesh and raised ring on the hilt, and the braided silver decoration on the scabbard.
 
The silver decoration on the hilt is particularly fine, and in good condition overall, with only some very minor dents on the pommel. The mesh is intact and shows no signs of fraying. The scabbard is intact and firm with no signs of splitting, but the chape has been badly dented at one corner. The silver panels on the scabbard are firm, but have moved somewhat from their original positions, probably due to the wood shrinking over time. The blade is rather roughly worked and has some pitting, but is otherwise sound and solid in the hilt.
 
Blade length:   25.5cm
Overall length: 43  cm
Length in scabbard:  51 cm
Early to Mid- 20th century