East Asia, China, late Qing Dynasty, Boxer Rebellion period, ca. 1899 to 1901 CE. An intimidating and sizable executioner's sword of a two-handed variety known as a dao (or dadao, literally "big knife") with a curved, forged-steel blade bearing a sharpened edge for swiftly separating the heads of Chinese dissidents from their necks. The blade tang is inserted inside a wooden handle with a ring pommel, and the entire handle is bound with cotton wraps dyed in traditional red pigment. Size: 3.75" W x 55.875" H (9.5 cm x 141.9 cm); (blade): 30.5" L (77.5 cm)

The Boxer Rebellion executioners visited villages, with the red hilt of their swords raised on the back, ferreting out foreigners, Christians and those perceived too sympathetic to them, who were rounded up and decapitated for all to see. The very volume of their work dictated that they must act quickly and move on leaving carnage and a message in blood. Few Boxer executioner's swords survive in this condition, suggesting that this one may have been captured by a European as a prize. A few "manor house" paint smudges support that conclusion. None the less, the wear indicates an active career before capture.

Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000

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#158564

Slight bending to overall form of blade, with abrasions to blade, minor loosening to handle wrappings near blade shoulder, and light staining to scattered areas of wrappings, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice patina on blade and preservation of wrapping color.