China, Qing Dynasty, an important imperial jade-hilted ceremonial sabre and scabbard, Qianlong mark and of period, the elongated 'S'-shaped sabre fitted with a green jade handle, intricately carved in relief with floral patterns, the center of the flower drilled and threaded with a tassel, the opposing end carved with stylized leaf patterns and embellished with an intricate gilt metal sword-guard separating the slender blade, cast in relief with floral scrolls and two free cast dragons, the steel blade decorated near the hilt with inlaid gold, silver and copper wire, one side with the two-character name, Ge Zhi, (stopping war) and five-character inventory number Tian zi shi er hao (Imperial number twelve), the reverse with a cartouche of a wise man holding a lance among clouds, depicting the sabre's name, and the Qianlong four-character mark in silver, the blade indented on each side with a long groove, tapering to the gently upturned tip, the scabbard formed of wood with a trefoil-diaper lacquered jintaopi (peach-tree bark) veneer, bound with pierced gilt-metal bands for hanging, with original attachments, each with a moveable dragon to both sides, set between similarly cast mounts protecting the mouth rim and tip. Length of sword with its scarbbard: 30 1/4 in.

Provenance: Property of a private Swedish family collection. This sabre was acquired from a German military officer in the administration of German Kiauschou Bay (present day Jiaozhou) colonial concession in Tsingtao, China by Dr. Engstrom of Sweden who was working for the German military mission constructing medical facilities at Kiauschou Bay from 1905 to 1911. This sabre by descent belong to Dr. Engstrom's family heir now in California.

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