Lot 608
608
A FINELY CAST BRONZE SWORD
A FINELY CAST BRONZE SWORD
A FINELY CAST BRONZE SWORD
A FINELY CAST BRONZE SWORD
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A FINELY CAST BRONZE SWORD

WARRING STATES PERIOD (475-221 BC)

Details
A FINELY CAST BRONZE SWORD
WARRING STATES PERIOD (475-221 BC)
The blade tapers from the median ridge to the chamfered edges and issues from a guard that is finely cast on each side with a different, intricate taotie mask formed by cells for turquoise inlay. The handle is encircled by two rings also cast with intricate cell-work for inlay, and the circular pommel is plain. There is extensive malachite encrustation and some turquoise inlay remaining.
20 1/8 in. (51 cm.) long
Provenance
Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978) Collection.

Brought to you by

Rufus Chen (陳嘉安)
Rufus Chen (陳嘉安) Head of Sale, AVP, Specialist
+1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay


Similar, but less intricate, cast decoration can be seen on the guard and the rings encircling the handle of a Warring States bronze sword of shorter size (42.1 cm.) included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ancient Bronze Weaponry in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, 1995, p. 204, pl. 33. Less intricate cast taotie masks can also be seen the guards of two Warring States bronze swords illustrated by M. Loehr in Chinese Bronze Age Weapons, Baltimore, 1956, pls. 38 and 40, nos. 98 and 99.

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