{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O473153"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O473153/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MR6762/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MR6762/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MR6762","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018LC2677","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O473153/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O473153","accessionNumber":"330-1875","objectType":"Two-handed sword","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The <i>Khasi dao</i> is a form of two-handed sword used by the Khasi people inhabiting the hills to the south of the Brahmaputra valley. Although a well balanced two-handed sword, their principal role is in religious ceremonies related to the agricultural cycle. \r\nIts distribution is not just confined to the Khasi hills. Variants of it form part of the religious practices of the Ao and Lhota Nagas and the Bodo people. Among the Ao where they are referred to as <i>noklang</i>, three times a year a <i>mithun</i> (a forest-dwelling relative of the water buffalo) is sacrificed to ensure the goodwill of the gods and safeguard the rice harvest. During the ritual, a pair of <i>noklang</i> are placed upright in the ground by their tangs. If one of the <i>noklang</i> falls over during the ceremony, it is considered a bad omen for the harvest.","physicalDescription":"The handle and blade are continuous. The handle is in three sections welded together, the top section being of brass, the others of steel. Ornamental bands of brass cover the joints of the sections. The cross piece is of split steel soldered on with brass. A spike, parallel to the cross piece, pierces the handle approximately halfway between the cross piece and the pommel. The pommel is in the form of a fish-tail loop.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"forging (metal forming)","id":"AAT54033"},{"text":"welding","id":"AAT53958"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel forged and welded with incised brass","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MR6762","2018LC2677"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES390734"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Two-handed sword","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Assam","id":"x29822"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"probably 19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"49.75","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"overall","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":" ","type":"","note":""},{"content":" ","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Two-handed sword <i>Khasi dao</i> steel iron and brass, incised, Assam, 19th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rawson, P.S., The Indian Sword, London, Herbert Jenkins, 1968, p.62-5, fig.35."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["330-1875"],"accessionNumberNum":"330","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1875,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-24","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}