East Asia, China, Warring States Period, ca. 475 to 221 BCE. A lovely short sword - known as a duan jian - that is cast from bronze via the lost wax (cire perdue) technique. The stocky sword features a double-edged blade with sharpened peripheries, a prominent midrib, and a pointed tip, all beneath a crested hand guard. The rod-form handle that emanates from above the guard features a pair of integral, close-set ringlets that increased the grip of the warrior, and a discoid pommel on top ensures that their hand did not accidentally slip off mid-swing. Covered in layers of green, brown, and russet patina, this is a wonderful example of Warring States era weaponry! Size: 18.6" L x 1.6" W (47.2 cm x 4.1 cm)

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1992.298.2

Provenance: private New York, USA collection, purchased ca. 2000 from an old US family collection, assembled in the 1970's to 1990's

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#168428

Slight bending to overall form of blade, with small nicks to blade edge, midrib, handle, and pommel, and light encrustations, otherwise intact and excellent. Beautiful patina throughout.